• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2023

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between psychosocial factors and the mask-wearing behavior after deregulation of COVID-19 quarantine guidelines among adults in Korea. Methods : We collected data (345 subjects) from online questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Korean version of fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Korean versions of the Perceived Stress Scale, and measurement tools adapted from previous studies for COVID-19 risk perception, social stigma, and appearance interest of subjects. We analysed data using SPSS version 23.0 for descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis. Results : People with cohabitant or mask-wearing tendency before COVID-19 pandemic had a higher rate of mask-wearing than those who were not. Subjects reporting higher level of social stigma (OR=1.154, 95% CI 1.049-1.270) and COVID-19 anxiety (OR=1.072, 95% CI 1.007-1.141) were more likely to report maskwearing behavior. Conclusion : From the results, appropriate intervention to those who fear social stigma and are anxious to the infectious diseases will be needed. Additionally, providing policies and guidelines that consider cohabitants and offering continuous education with information of disease to the public are also expected to helpful for recovery of daily life from infectious diseases.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of residents for purchased public housing in Seoul, using empirical panel data. The scope of the study will be targeted at the Seoul, as of 2017. The research method includes literature review, statistical analysis, and spatial analysis using QGIS software program. The data used in the research is the Panel Survey of Public Housing in Seoul(2017). The main results of the research are briefly summarized as follows; Firstly, Living in a housing with an increased area compared to the previous housing. Secondly, they can live for a long time with low rent. The burden on housing costs is 71.8% in the case of the deposit. Thirdly, there is little concern about social stigma. Purchased public housing was found to be good in terms of stigmatization due to low-income clusters. Lastly, the accessibility in the city center was good condition. In particular, commuting time was 34.79 minutes on a one-way basis, saving about 4 minutes compared to other types of public housing.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.463-471
• /
• 2022

Purposes of this study were to identify the factors associated with behavioral Intention to social distancing (BItSD) in a loss versus gain advertising context. This study is a secondary analysis of data surveyed after randomly allocating one of the loss and gain message framing advertisements for the prevention of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection to 379 adults aged 19 and over living in Korea in early March 2021. Attitude toward advertisement (𝛽=.03, p<.001), involvement in COVID-19 (𝛽=.14, p=.006) and emotional stigma (𝛽=-0.17, p<.001) were associated with BItSD, and the explanatory power of these variables was 19% (Adjusted R²=.19). Therefore, when health care professionals communicate with the public, they should develop the strategies to increase public people's involvement in the information and to induce positive advertising attitudes, and provide the effective messages to prevent stigma by accurate information.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to observe how the public impression of radiation is changing over the North Korea's nuclear bomb test. We found that the nuclear bomb test brought more negative impressions of radiation, but, in one year, more positive ones prevailed as in the pre-bomb-test. Those positive impressions were found to be composed of useful and positive elements mostly relative to health care. This suggests that we need to apply radiation (fusion) technology to solving everyday life problems in order to bring more positive impressions of radiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5077-5083
• /
• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women globally and represents the second leading cause of cancer death among women (after lung cancer). India is going through epidemiologic transition. It is reported that the incidence of breast cancer is rising rapidly as a result of changes in reproductive risk factors, dietary habits and increasing life expectancy, acting in concert with genetic factors. Materials and Methods: In order to understand the existing epidemiological correlates of breast cancer in South India, a systematic review of evidence available on epidemiologic correlates of breast cancer addressing incidence, prevalence, and associated factors like age, reproductive factors, cultural and religious factors was performed with specific focus on screening procedures in southern India. Results: An increase in breast cancer incidence due to various modifiable risk factors was noted, especially in women over 40 years of age, with late stage of presentation, lack of awareness about screening, costs, fear and stigma associated with the disease serving as major barriers for early presentation. Conclusions: Educational strategies should be aimed at modifying the life style, early planning of pregnancy, promoting breast feeding and physical activity. It is very important to obtain reliable data for planning policies, decision-making and setting up the priorities.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the effects of the public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' on the use of mental health services in patients with schizophrenia using big data analysis. Methods: Data on the frequency of internet searches for 'crime of schizophrenia' and the patterns of mental health service utilization by patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders by month were collected from Naver big data and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Services in Korea, respectively. Their correlations in the same and following month for lagged effect were examined. Results: The number of outpatients correlated negatively with public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' in the same month. The lagged relationship between public attention and the number of admissions in psychiatric wards was also found. In terms of sex differences, the use of outpatient services among female patients correlated negatively with public attention in the same month while the number of male patients' admissions in both same and following month correlated positively with public attention. Conclusion: These findings suggested that public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' could negatively affect illness behavior in patients with schizophrenia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.64-70
• /
• 2018

Objectives: In most countries around the world, sex work is an illegal activity. Female sex workers (FSWs) in Iran hide their identities, and they are known to be a hard-to-reach population. Despite free access to HIV testing, fewer than half of FSWs receive HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reasons for which FSWs do not seek testing at drop-in centers (DICs) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in Iran. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2016. The participants were 24 FSWs who received services at VCT centers and DICs for vulnerable females in the north of Iran and 9 males who were the clients of FSWs. In this study, we made use of purposive sampling and carried out a thematic analysis. Results: We found 4 major and 6 minor themes. The major themes were: fear of being infected (with HIV), stigma, indifference, and knowledge. Conclusions: Despite the significant efforts made by the government of Iran to establish and expand DICs for vulnerable females, the number of FSWs receiving services at these centers has not been very considerable. Consequently, by introducing and implementing training programs for peer groups, it may be possible to take steps toward establishing strategic programs for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.167-189
• /
• 2023

Korea has become the highest nitrogen balance (228 kg/ha) among 34 OECD member countries, and has the stigma of being a 'Nutrient overload country' as of 2019. Accordingly, research on the derivation and utilization of nutrient balance indicators and the 'regional nutrient management system' are being promoted to improve Korea's nutrient balance. It is necessary to support these policies and studies, form a public consensus on improving the nutrient balance, and evaluate the function of the public benefit. This paper aims to estimate the public benefit value of improving the nutrient balance based on an analysis of consumers' willingness to pay and recognition of Korea's nutrient excess for 600 consumers nationwide. As results, 21.2% of the respondents said they were aware of excessive nutrients in Korea, and 76.7% of the respondents said they were aware of the need for nutrient management. The average amount of intention to pay for the improvement of three pollution (soil, water quality, and air) that can occur due to a nutrient overload was ￦2,321.1 for soil pollution improvement, ￦2,391.2 for water pollution improvement, and ￦2,377.9 for air pollution improvement. The average willingness to pay for the three pollution reduction was ￦6,002.3. These results are expected to be used to form a public consensus on the balance of payments and to establish measures to enhance public interest values in the future.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.313-334
• /
• 2013

A study aims to assess Korean mental health literacy and analyze the characteristics of vulnerable population. This study presented typical vignettes of schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism to 1,197 adults randomly. All respondents were asked for recognition of mental illness, beliefs about causes, professional help and self-help, stigma for receiving psychiatric treatment for the person described. The results showed that the recognition of mental health problem in a vignette was very poor and that personal causes were seen by public as more important than environmental and bio-genetic causes. When the public were asked about various professional therapies and self-help activities, psychotherapy was favored while other professional help were considered to be less helpful than self-help activities. Among professionals, psychiatrist were viewed as most helpful. We used cluster analysis to compare high mental health literacy group with low mental health literacy group(vulnerable population). Vulnerable population were found to be more aged and to live in county area. We proposed government initiated program for enhancing public mental health literacy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tuberculosis (TB) in the general population in Timor-Leste. Methods: In the nationally representative cross-sectional 2016 Timor-Leste Demographic and Health Survey, 4622 men (aged 15-59 years) and 12 607 women (aged 15-49 years) were randomly selected using stratified multistage sampling and interviewed. Results: Overall, 66.9% of men and 62.8% of women were aware of TB, 4.4% of men and 12.6% of women had TB courtesy stigma, and 83.3% of men and 88.6% of women reported intention to receive TB treatment. The $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation overall TB knowledge score was $3.9{\pm}2.0$ (out of 8) among men and $3.0{\pm}1.8$ among women. In a multivariable linear regression analysis, among both men and women, older age, higher education, rural residence, and sources of TB information (family/friends, school/workplace, health care provider, Internet, television, and newspaper) were associated with higher TB knowledge scores. In addition, among women, higher wealth status and having heard about TB from the radio were associated with higher TB knowledge scores. Negative associations with TB courtesy stigma were found for urban residence and having heard about TB from family or friends among men, and for older age, higher TB knowledge, and TB information sources (family/friends and school/workplace) among women. Among both men and women, higher TB knowledge scores and having heard of TB from a health care provider were associated with intention to receive TB treatment. Conclusions: This study identified socio-demographic risk factors for deficiences in population-based TB knowledge in Timor-Leste; these findings should be considered when designing TB communication, prevention, and control strategies.