• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.3
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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.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.4
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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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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Although Korean population has been growing steadily during the past four decades, the nation is rapidly becoming an aging society because of its declining birth rate combined with an increasing life expectancy. In addition, Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world due to fewer married couples, advanced maternal age, and falling birth rate. The prevalence of low birth weight infants and multiple births has been increased compared with the decrease in the birth rate. Moreover, the number of congenital anomalies is expected to increase due to the advanced maternal age. In addition, the number of interracial children is expected to increase due to the rise in the number of international marriages. However, the maternal education level is high, single-mother birth rate is low, and the gender imbalance has lessened. The number of overweight babies has been decreased, as more pregnant women are receiving adequate prenatal care. Compared to the Asian average birth weight, the average birth weight is the highest in Asia. Moreover, the rate of low birth weight infants is low, and infant mortality is similarly low across Asia. Using birth data from Statistics Korea and studies of birth outcomes in Korea and abroad, this study aimed to assess the changes in maternal and infant characteristics associated with birth outcomes during the past four decades and identify necessary information infrastructures to study countermeasures the decrease in birth rate and increase in low birth weight infants in Korea.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.43 no.4
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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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.729-732
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• 2000

Weight records from birth to calving and calving scores of 407 two-year old heifers and weights of their offspring from birth to one year of age were used to study the effects of sire birth weight on maternal traits of their female progeny. The heifers (G1) were the progeny of 81 sires (G0) and were classified into three classes based on their sires' birth weights (High, Medium and Low). The heifers were from three distinct breed-groups and were mated to bulls with medium birth weights within each breed-group to produce the second generation (G2). The data were analyzed using a covariance model. The female progeny of high birth-weight sires were heavier from birth to calving than those sired by medium and low birth-weight bulls. The effect of sire birth weight on calving difficulty scores of their female progeny was not significant. Grand progeny (G2) of low birth-weight sires were lighter at birth than those from high birth-weight sires (p<0.05) but they did not differ significantly in weaning and yearling weights with the other two Grand progeny groups. The results indicated that using low birth weight sires would not result in an increase in the incidence of dystocia among their female progeny calving at two-year of age and would not have an adverse effect on weaning and yearling weights of their grand progeny.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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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.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-41
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• 2001

We studied 100 neonates to enter a Dongguk University Oriental Hospital Postpartum Care Center, during 9 months from February 10. 2001 to November 4. 2001. The conclusion is following. 1. Newborn sex ratio was 1.70. 2. Delivery method : Normal vaginal delivery was 66 and cesarean section was 34. 3. Gestation age : Premature infants less than 37 weeks were 2 term infants from 37 to 41 weeks were 98 and post-term infants 42 or more weeks were zero. 4. Period between birth and admission : First to fifth day was 66 sixth to tenth day was 32 and eleventh or more day was 2. 5. Period of admission : 1 to 7 days were 8. 8 to 14 days were 65. 15 to 21 days were 23. and 22 to 28 days were 4. 6. Weight : Birth weight less than 2500g was 3. 2500 to 3999g was 92. and 4000g or more was 5. 7. Height : Zero week after birth the average height was 48.8cm, one week after birth was 50.0cm, two weeks after birth was 51.8cm, three weeks after birth was 53.2cm, four weeks after birth was 54.5cm. 8. Head circumference : Zero week after birth the average head circumference was 34.6cm, one week after birth was 35.3cm, two weeks after birth was 35.7cm, three weeks after birth was 36.3cm, four weeks after birth was 36.8cm. 9. Chest circumference : Zero week after birth the average chest circumference was 33.2cm, one week after birth was 33.5cm, two weeks after birth was 34.4cm, three weeks after birth was 35.1cm, four weeks after birth was 36.6cm. 10. Feeding : There was not breast feeding, artificial feeding was 8, and mixing feeding was 92. 11. Jaundice : Physiologic jaundice was 10, pathologic jaundice was 1.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and to describe characteristics of the birth experience assessment instrument. Methods: Literature related to the development of the birth experience assessment instrument was examined using a systematic review method. A literature search was conducted using the keywords as '[normal birth]; [$satisfac^*$ OR care quality]; [instrument OR scale] AND (development)' through PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and RISS. The search used quality appraisal through QUADAS (Quality Assessment of studies of Diagnostic Accuracy included Systemic reviews) yielding 17 records. Results: The birth experience assessment instrument was categorized for instrumental characteristics: birth satisfaction (n=8), perception of labor experience (n=5), and birth care quality assessment in normal and operative birth experiences (n=4). Important key elements for content characteristics were as follows: nursing practice (n=10), pain control (n=5), environment (n=5), participation (n=4), and support (n=4). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the birth experience instrument is appropriate for measuring quality of birth care in various clinical conditions. This review of the birth experience instrument reports that an appropriate psychometric tool for enhancing quality of birth care is important.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.255-259
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• 2020

Along with the low birth rate in Korea, the aging of mothers is progressing very rapidly. Recent studies have reported that the obstetric infrastructure is crumbling due to the accelerating closures of obstetric medical institutions resulting from the low birth rate and low reimbursement rates for obstetric procedures. The number of birth centers has also decreased, but women's interest in natural birth has actually increased, such that deliveries at birth centers now account for 11.8% of deliveries in obstetric clinics. In the Netherlands, Japan, and the United Kingdom, initiatives to promote natural birth through care provided by midwives increased the rate of natural births, decreased the number of cesarean sections, and lowered the rate of postpartum complications. In light of these examples, South Korea should also encourage natural delivery by midwives. A national support system for midwife applicants is necessary, and the requirements for institutions that train midwives should be revised. Independent birth centers should have emergency prescription privileges, and women should be given the choice to have a natural delivery by creating birth centers within hospitals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2022

Objectives: No studies have examined the association between preterm birth rates and socioeconomic factors in Japan using nationwide statistical data. We analyzed the association between preterm birth rates and household occupation using Vital Statistics data. Methods: Aggregated Vital Statistics data from Japan from 2007 to 2019 were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. From the data, the number of births according to year, age group, gestational period, number of pregnancies, and household occupation were used in this study. Crude preterm birth rates and preterm birth rates adjusted by maternal age according to household occupation were calculated for each year. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between household occupation and preterm births. Results: Unemployed households had the highest preterm birth rate, and households with an occupation classification of "full-time worker 2" (an employee at a large company, civil servant, or board member) had the lowest preterm birth rate throughout each period. Poisson regression analysis revealed that unemployed households were statistically significantly associated with a high preterm birth risk. In contrast, the preterm birth rate adjusted by maternal age remained stable throughout each period regardless of household occupation, and preterm birth rates were found not to have increased in recent years in Japan. Conclusions: Unemployed households had higher preterm birth rates than other household occupations. Further studies investigating the characteristics of unemployed households are needed to identify the reasons for this disparity.