• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.447-456
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Food insecurity, which is the inability to obtain food or inadequate food consumption in terms of quality and quantity, has physical and psychological consequences on children's health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between children's growth disorders and food insecurity in Qazvin city, Iran. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 177 cases and 355 controls of children aged 3 to 6 years, who were referred to health centers in Qazvin city. The case group consisted of children with growth disorders. Data were obtained with the 18-item US Department of Agriculture questionnaire, a household socioeconomic questionnaire, a and growth monitoring card. The data were analyzed with using IBM SPSS Version 22.0, by independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression. Results: A significant relationship was found between children's growth disorders and household food insecurity with (p<0.05, odds ratio [OR]=17.0, confidence interval [CI]=5.9, 48.8) and without hunger (p<0.05, OR=2.69, CI=1.4, 4.9). There were also significant relationships between children's growth disorders and socioeconomic status (p<0.05, OR=3.4, CI=1.4, 8.5), the duration of breastfeeding (p<0.05, OR=0.94, CI=0.9, 0.98), and children's ages (p<0.05, OR=0.94, CI=0.92, 0.96). Sex and birth order, and the age of the parents was not found to be significantly related with growth disorders. Conclusion: Lower socioeconomic status and household food insecurity were the important predictors of children's growth disorders. Policymakers should focus more on promoting steady employment and income among family members. Nutritional education for mothers is also recommended, in order to better meet the nutritional needs of the children.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2001

Objective : To investigate the sources, extent and related factors in South Korean doctors. Methods : The study subjects were 934 doctors in Taegu, Kyungpook Province, Korea(540 independent practitioners, 105 employed at hospitals and 289 residents in training). Information concerning job stress was obtained using a 9-item questionnaire. Information regarding related factors such as demographic characteristics(age, sex, marital status), perceptions on the socioeconomic status of doctors and working conditions(work time, on-call days per week) was also obtained by self-administered questionnaire during April and May, 2000. Results : Major sources of job stress included clnical responsibility/judgement factor, patient factor and work loading factor. The job stress score of residents was the highest among three groups. The score was lower in older doctors. The score was low among those who thought doctors' socioeconomic status was not good. The longer the work time, the higher the job stress score was. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to control for the mutual influence of independent variables. In regression analysis, the score of residents was higher than practitioners. Work time and socioeconomic status perception had negative effects on job stress score. Conclusion : The average job stress score of the doctors was high. Age, work type, working conditions and perceptions of socioeconomic status were found to besignificantly related to job stress score. Although the job stress of doctors is somewhat inevitable due to the nature of the doctor's job, control of work time, development of coping tools and other intervention methods are needed to reduce job stress of doctors. Further studies are required to understand the characteristics of iob stress and reduce the job stress of doctors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The changing population age structure and rapidly increasing medical costs make providing high-quality, effective medical care for the elderly a challenge. This study assessed the satisfaction with medical care in terms of comprehensiveness, general satisfaction, and accessibility among community-dwelling Korean elders. Methods : Data were obtained from a nationwide representative sample of the older adults(aged 65 years old or older) living in the community, who participated in a 2006 telephone survey conducted using random digit dialing(n=881). General satisfaction, comprehensiveness and accessibility were measured using a 10-item satisfaction survey questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the distribution of each of three components of subjective satisfaction. Analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) was used to examine the association of each of the three components with socioeconomic variables. Results : Comprehensiveness and general satisfaction were low among older people with a high socioeconomic status. Accessibility was evaluated as low among older people of low socioeconomic status, those living in rural areas and those who were medical aid beneficiaries. Conclusions : Urgent interventions should be considered in order to improve accessibility to medical care for elders of low socioeconomic status and those living in rural communities. Given the rapid aging of the population, we need to develop a monitoring system to improve the quality of geriatric care.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.41 no.7
• /
• pp.667-681
• /
• 2008

This study aimed to identify a nutritionally vulnerable group and to examine their nutritional problems based on a relationship between socioeconomic position and nutritional status through life-course. A cross-sectional nationwide survey of 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. A total of 8,930 participants aged $\geq$ 1 year were included. The socioeconomic position indicator was education level. Nutritional status was assessed by the percentage attainment of a dietary reference intake (DRI) and dietary quality based on nutrient intakes estimated by a 24 hour-recall data. Food insufficiency was examined by one-item food insufficiency questionnaire. The difference in nutritional status and food insufficiency according to educational level was tested by General Linear Model and Chi-square test, respectively. The nutritional status and food insufficiency was the worst during adolescence and older age than other period. Both quantity and quality of nutrient intakes was poorer in low education group than high education group. The prevalence of food insufficiency also was higher in low education group. The results were consistent across the life-course and sex. Based on these findings, we suggest that the development of various policy and strategies targeted to nutritionally vulnerable group is necessary to reduce nutritional inequality by socioeconomic position.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.39-49
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and factors related to daily activities in a representative Korean population. Methods: This study was based on the questions about musculoskeletal symptoms in the Korean General Social Survey 2010. The questionnaire about musculoskeletal symptoms was adopted from Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency guide, and it includes general characteristics, characteristics of pain, work type, work intensity and a 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). We utilized the criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to define the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Demographic, behavioral and socioeconomic factors were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 38.3%. The prevalence was higher in females, the elderly, those without health insurance, and those with a low income, low education, and occupations with a heavy workload. The prevalence by body part was highest in the back, shoulder, and knee, in that order. The physical component summary and mental component summary of the SF-12 decreased with increasing musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal symptoms are very common in the general population, and related to various socio-demographic factors. These results suggest that active prevention and management of musculoskeletal symptoms is needed at a national level.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.525-536
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the Turkish adaptation of the COVID Stress Scale (CSS) on the basis of determining the stress caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and to test its validity and reliability. Methods: The English CSS was translated into Turkish using forward and backward translation. Data were collected online from 360 participants. Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and content validity. Pearson product-moment correlation, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, and test-retest methods were used to evaluate reliability. Results: The Turkish version of the CSS has 36 items consistent with the original scale and has five factors: COVID danger and contamination, socioeconomic consequences of COVID, COVID xenophobia, traumatic stress due to COVID, and compulsive checking for COVID. The construct validity of the Turkish version of the CSS was verified by the adjusted goodness of fit index > .85, and comparative fit index > .95. The content validity index of each item was 91%. The corrected item-total correlations of the scale ranged from .51 to .89. Internal consistency was reliable, with a Cronbach's α of .93. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the CSS is valid and reliable. It can be used as a measurement tool for the assessment of COVID-related stress.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.28 no.9
• /
• pp.880-892
• /
• 1995

This study was designed to determine the level of nutrition knowledge of 3,390 elementary school children in Seoul and Kangnung, and to examine the relationship of demographic characteristics of children to nutrition knowledge. Nutrition knowledge was measured by modified NATs (Nutrition Achievement Tests developed by National Dairy Council and Iowa State University). Higher nutrition knowledge, correlated with increasing parental educational level, lower parental age, and higher socioeconomic status. However, there was no difference in total test scores between children in Seoul and Kangnung. Item scores indicated children had more knowledge about 'physiological facts' and 'food handling', and limited knowledge about 'nutrients' and 'nutrition and society'. Children, both in Seoul and Kangnung, lacked an undestanding of many basic principles of nutrition. These results suggest several areas to emphasize when developing nutrition education materials. Modified NATs in this study may be used to assess nutrition education needs of children, to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education program, and to compare nutrition achievement of different groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.364-375
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to identify the differences between married women's dissatisfaction towards imported and domestic clothing and to test the role of socioeconomic variables on dissatisfaction. Two-piece formal suit was selected as the item, and country of origin of imported suit was not controlled. Sample selection criteria included married women living in Seoul, Korea, between ages 30-59. The data were analysed using factor analysis, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicate, in the Korean clothing market, both international and Korean marketers should be prudent with their price policies and should implement differentiated marketing strategy based on their target market's demogrophic profile. Higher dissatisfaction towards domestic clothing in terms of most factors, under the rapidly globalizing market environment suggests the Korean marketers will be forced to face full-scale harsh competition from international marketers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.33-47
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to survey the stressor, frequency of the stressor, level of the stress perceived by children in Korea. The subject were 417 children of 80 second graders, 117 third graders, 111 fourth graders and 109 fifth graders selected from three elementary schools in Pusan(214 male and 203 female). A questionnaire consisting of 70-item stress scale for children and demographic questions was used for mother. Statistics used for data analysis were frequency, ANOVA, and t-test. The major finding of this study were as follows: 1. Events receiving the highest ratings for magnitude of badness were mainly family related (parents separating; gradd parents getting sick/dying; parents getting sick). 2. Events receiving the highest ratings for frequency of occurrence were test, fighting with siblings, being picked on by other kids, staying home alone. 3. There appear signigcant differences for children's perception of stress due to the grade and the socioeconomic status.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.355-363
• /
• 2008

Objectives : Most studies about multiple roles and women's health suggested that combining with paid job, being married and having children was more likely to improve health status than in case of single or traditional roles. We investigated whether there was better health outcome in multiple roles among Korean women coinciding with previous studies of other nations. Methods : Data were from the 2005 Korea National Health & Nutritional Examination Survey, a subsample of women aged 25-59 years (N=2,943). Health status was assessed for self-rated poor health, perceived stress and depression, respectively based on one questionnaire item. The age-standardized prevalence of all health outcomes were calculated by role categories and socioeconomic status. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of self rated health, perceived stress, and depression with multiple roles adjusted for age, education, household income, number of children and age of children. Results : Having multiple roles with working role was not associated with better health and psychological wellbeing. Compared to those with traditional roles, employed women more frequently experienced perceived stress, with marital and/or parental roles. Non-working single mothers suffered depression more often than women with traditional roles or other role occupancy. Socioeconomic status indicators were potent independent correlates of self-rated health and perceived stress. Conclusions : Employment of women with other roles did not confer additional health benefit to traditional family responsibility. Juggling of work and family responsibility appeared more stressful than traditional unemployed parental and marital role in Korean women.