• 보건행정학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.277-284
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• 2015

Background: This study investigates the relationship of socioeconomic status with adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth) and the relationship of socioeconomic status with infant mortality, using the birth cohort in Korea, 1995-2010. Methods: 8,648,035 births from National Statistics Offics, 1995-2010 were studied with respect to social variation in adverse birth outcomes and infant mortality in Korea. The effect of social inequality was examined against adverse birth outcomes and infant mortality using multivariate logistic regression after controlling for other covariates. Results: Social inequality were observed in adverse birth outcomes: low birth weight (LBW, 1,500-2,499 g), very LBW (1,000-1,499 g), and extremely LBW (500-999 g) as well as moderately preterm birth (PTB, 33-36 weeks), very PTB (28-32 weeks), extremely PTB (22-27 weeks), and infant mortality. The effect of social inequality was higher among moderately LBW (1,500-2,499 g) and PTB (33-36 weeks) than very or extremely LBW and PTB. Conclusion: The social inequality in adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight and preterm) and infant mortality existed and increased in Korea from 1995 to 2010. The effect of maternal education on adverse birth outcomes as well as infant mortality was apparent in the study results. Especially, social inequailiy in infant mortality was greater among the sub-normal births (low birth weight [1,500-2,499 g] or preterm birth [33-36 weeks]), which suggests, social interventions should aim at more among the subnormal births. This study suggest that tackling inequality in births as well as infant mortality should be focused on the social inequality itself.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.233-236
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• 2008

In recent years, Korea has experienced a steadily declining birth rate, which is a serious social problem in the country. Although living conditions have improved, the birth rates for low birth weight infants and preterm babies has increased because more and more women choose to give birth later in life and the social environment has changed. The rise in low birth weight infants may increase infant mortality rates and morbidity rates. However, the recent improvements in neonatal care has elevated the survival rate of low birth weight infants up to 90 percent and lowered the weight of the very low birth weight infants that can now be saved. In this study, we used dynamic population statistics from the Korea National Statistical Office, which represents the current trend of social stratification and the population of this period. We analyzed birth records for a seven-year period and studied the changes in the delivery rate of preterm and low birth weight infants and the problems related to those changes. The results show that the rate of low birth weight infants has increased from 3.79% to 4.35% for the past seven years. The rate of preterm babies rose from 3.79% to 4.89%. The number of babies born from mothers aged 35 or more went up from 6.69% to 11.83% of the total number of the babies born. As maternal age has risen, the risks of delivering a preterm or low birth weight infant have also increased.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.255-266
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• 2018

Objectives: This study compared the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight between native-born and foreign-born women. Methods: By Using the birth registration data, every woman who gave birth between 2010 and 2016 in Korea was included in the analysis. Duration from marriage to pregnancy was measured by month and multiple socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were controlled. Preterm birth (<37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2.5 kg) were used for outcome variables. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis with Stata. Results: The risks of preterm birth and low birth weight for native-born and foreign-born women differed according to the duration of marriage or birth order. For the first infant, foreign-born women were more likely to have pereterm birth or low birth weight than the native-born in the early stage of marriage but nativeborn women had higher risks than the foreign-born in the middle and later stage of marriage. For the second infant, foreign-born women were less likely to have pereterm birth or low birth weight than the native-born regardless of the duration of marriage. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrates that the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight for foreign-born women is concentrated on the early stage of marriage. Institutional and cultural supports should be given to foreign-born women to help their early settlement in the Korean society.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.14-17
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• 2006

Infants who are born prematurely or with low birth weight should be immunized at the same postnatal chronologic age. They should receive BCG, DTaP, IPV vaccines according to the same recommended schedule as full term infants. Hepatitis B vaccine schedule is modified when hepatitis B vaccine is administered a infant with birth weight less than 2,000 g. The recommended standard dose of each vaccine should be administered. Proportion of children experiencing vaccine-related adverse events dose not differ between full-term and preterm infants. Immunization with routinely recommended childhood vaccines is safe for preterm and low birth weight infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권4호
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• pp.172-179
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• 2021

Background: Evidence shows that fluconazole prophylaxis is an effective treatment against invasive fungal infections in preterm neonates, however, the most efficient schedule of fluconazole prophylaxis for the colonization and mortality of invasive candidiasis (IC) is unknown. Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficiency of different prophylactic fluconazole schedules in controlling IC colonization, infection, and mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in neonatal intensive care units. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases using the keywords "candida," "invasive candidiasis," "IC," "fluconazole prophylaxis," "preterm infants," "very low birth weight infants," "VLBW," "extremely low birth weight," and "ELBW." Results: Mortality was significantly decreased in a meta-analysis of studies using different fluconazole prophylaxis regimens. The meta-analysis also indicated a significant decrease in the incidence of IC-associated mortality in ELBW infants using the same fluconazole prophylaxis schedules. Conclusion: Future studies should explore the effectiveness of other different fluconazole prophylaxis schedules on IC colonization, infection, and mortality.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.155-163
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• 2016

The purpose of the review article is to investigate the influence of periodontal diseases on preterm birth(PTB) and low birth weight(LBW). PTB and LBW are the main risk factors of infant mortality and a major public health problem. PTB is defined as delivery at less than 37 weeks and LBW is less than 2,500 grams. Over Approximately 60 percent of perinatal mortality results from PTB or LBW. Although the causes of PTB and LBW are not fully understood, infection is the leading cause of PTB and LBW. Periodontal diseases are serious disease burdens because they are caused by bacterial endotoxin, inflammatory reaction, and cytokine. The periodontal diseases are the predisposing factors of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Over the past 15 years, previous studies revealed that periodontitis had adverse outcomes including PTB and LBW in pregnancy.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.146-155
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• 2023

Purpose: The starting time for probiotic supplementation in preterm infants after birth varies widely. This study aimed to investigate the optimal time for initiating probiotics to reduce adverse outcomes in preterm or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Medical records of preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks or VLBW infants in 2011-2020 were reviewed respectively. The infants who received Saccharomyces boulardii probiotics within 7 days of birth were grouped into an early introduction (EI) group, and those who received supplemented probiotics after 7 days of birth were part of the late introduction (LI) group. Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups and analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 370 infants were included. The mean GA (29.1 weeks vs. 31.2 weeks, p<0.001) and birth weight (1,235.9 g vs. 1491.4 g, p<0.001) were lower in the LI group (n=223) than in the EI group. The multivariate analysis indicated that factors affecting the LI of probiotics were GA at birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; p<0.001) and the enteral nutrition start day (OR, 1.47; p<0.001). The late probiotic introduction was associated with a risk of late-onset sepsis (OR, 2.85; p=0.020), delayed full enteral nutrition (OR, 5.44; p<0.001), and extrauterine growth restriction (OR, 1.67; p=0.033) on multivariate analyses after adjusting for GA. Conclusion: Early supplementation of probiotics within a week after birth may reduce adverse outcomes among preterm or VLBW infants.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2018

Purpose: Meconium-related ileus is common in preterm infants. Without proper management, it can cause necrotizing enterocolitis and perforation requiring emergent operation. This study was conducted to describe the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided Gastrografin enema at bedside for preterm infants with meconium-related ileus. Methods: Between March 2013 and December 2014, this study enrolled preterm infants with birth weight <1,500 g, who were diagnosed with meconium-related ileus requiring ultrasound-guided Gastrografin enema refractory to glycerin or warm saline enemas. Gastrografin was infused until it passed the ileocecal valve with ultrasound guidance at bedside. Results: A total of 13 preterm infants were enrolled. Gestational age and birth weight were 28.6 weeks (range, 23.9-34.3 weeks) and 893 g (range, 610-1,440 g), respectively. Gastrografin enema was performed around postnatal day 8 (range, day 3-11). The success rate was 84.6% (11 of 13 cases). Three of these 11 infants received a second procedure, which was successful. Among 2 unsuccessful cases, one failed to pass meconium while the other required surgery due to perforation. The time required to pass meconium was $2.8{\pm}1.5hours$ (range, 1-6 hours). The time until radiographic improvement was $2.8{\pm}3.4days$ (range, 1-14 days) after the procedure. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided Gastrografin enema at bedside as a first-line treatment to relieve meconium-related ileus was effective and safe for very low birth weight infants. We could avoid unnecessary emergent operation in preterm infants who have high postoperative morbidity and mortality. This could also avoid transporting small preterm infants to fluoroscopy suite.

• 보건의료산업학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.137-145
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to analyze the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) in extramarital birth by analyzing 2008-2012 birth certificated data (2,328,719 births) from Korea Statistics. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated from logistic regression analyses to describe the associations between PTB & LBW and extramarital birth adjusted for maternal age, maternal occupation & education, infantile sex, birth order and number of child birth (singleton & multiple birth). The rate of extramarital birth was 1.8 percent and 2.1 percent in 2010-11. The incidence of LBW was 8.1 percent in extramarital birth and 5.0 percent in marital birth. The incidence of PTB in extramarital birth were 8.2 percent and 5.8 percent in marital birth. Compared with marital birth, the odds ratio (OR) for PTB were 1.48 (95% CI: 1.43-1.54) for extramarital birth. Risk of LBW was higher in extramarital birth (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.64-1.76) than that of marital birth. Among mothers younger than 20 years, the odds ratio of PTB among extramarital birth, relative to married birth was 1.69 (1.49-1.91). Among unmarried mothers, those at a higher risk of LBW was aged 20-29 years (1.69: 1.59-1.79). Maternal unmarried status was associated with increased risk of PTB and LBW.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.572-586
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• 2022

본 연구는 미숙아의 체중을 추적 조사하여 성장곡선 체중 z-score 값으로 성장 상태를 확인하고 관련 요인을 탐색하기 위한 종단적 연구이다. 출생 체중, 재태연령, 출생 시 NICU에서의 의료적 처치 (CPR, 산소치료, 위장관 삽관), NICU 입원 기간 및 퇴원연령, 수유 문제, 일일 추정 수유량이 체중 성장에 유의하게 영향을 가지는 것이 확인되었다. 출생 체중과 연령이 적은 그룹이 유의하게 초기 성장 정도가 더 낮았으나 교정연령 3개월 이후부터 12개월까지의 체중에 차이가 없었다. 하지만 재태연령 40주 이후의 연령-체중 z-score가 평균 이하인 그룹이 출생 체중이 유의하게 낮은 것으로 보아 장기적인 성장에 출생체중이 영향을 미치는 것으로 보인다. 또한 NICU에서 의료적 처치를 받고 NICU 입원 기간이 긴 경우 성장곡선의 50 백분율 이하로 성장에 유의한 차이가 있었고, 퇴원 후 2개월간 수유과정 중 문제가 없으며 더 많은 양을 섭취한 그룹이 성장곡선에서 더 상위에 있었으며 더 잘 자랐다. 또한 NICU 퇴원 후 가정에서 자녀가 초기보다 하향 성장을 하고 있을 때, 외부의 도움 및 커뮤니티 케어를 필요로 하므로 미숙아 성장 지원을 위하여 커뮤니티 케어 도입의 필요성을 시사하였다. 본 연구 결과를 통하여 미숙아의 출생 체중 및 연령, NICU에서의 처치는 초기의 체중 성장에 영향을 끼치며, 재태연령 40주 이후의 성장 증진과 성장지연 위험을 감소시키기 위해서 올바른 섭취를 통한 원활한 영양공급이 중요함을 알 수 있다. 미숙아 성장 추적은 NICU 퇴원 후에도 지속되어야 하며 성장 증진 관련 변수, 특히 영양 지원에 적극적인 개입과 지지가 필요하다.