• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.759-765
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• 2021

Recently, summer temperatures have frequently been abnormal in Korea owing to global warming. In summer, a decrease in feed intake rate and biological activity were observed in Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle), leading to lower production rates in the industry. However, the precise scale of damage was not reported as with other animals of economic value. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of birth season on birth weight in Hanwoo. Data were collected from 100 local breeding farms from 2016 to 2019. A total of 41,081 Hanwoo calves were classified and analyzed by sex, year, month, and season (March-May, spring; June-August, summer; September-November, fall; and December-February, winter) of birth. The birth weight of Hanwoo calves differed according to birth month. The average birth weight of male calves was 30.47 kg and that of female calves was 28.16 kg. Hanwoo birth weight was the highest in March-born calves and the lowest in July-born calves. The birth weights of calves born in February, March, April, November, and December were significantly larger than those of calves born in July. In addition, the birth weight of Hanwoo calves from the summer was significantly lower than that of calves born in other seasons. Furthermore, Hanwoo steer slaughter age showed a negative correlation, whereas carcass weight had a positive correlation with birth weight. In the beef cattle industry, birth weight is a very important economic characteristic that is related to growth rate. These data will contribute toward planning the reproduction of Hanwoo and analysis of changes in characteristics of economic value owing to high temperatures.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.2 s.22
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• pp.322-330
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• 1987

The objectives of this study were to examine the changes of birth weight and relationship of birth weight with maternal age and parity. The study population included 13,634 single live births out of 14,346 births delivered at a general hospital in Busan between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1956. Data were obtained from the delivery record. In 1979 the mean birth weight of male was 3,074 gm and that of female was 2,985 gm. In 1986 birth weight of male was increased to 3,266 gm and that of female to 3,210 gm. Low birth weight ($\leq$2,500 gm) incidence rate was 7.2% in 1977 and it was increased gradually to 10.4% in 1980 but decreased thereafter to 6.5% in 1986. Incidence rate of overweight infant (4,001 gm $\leq$) was 3.9% for 10 years and it ranged from 2.9% to 4.6% but no particular changing pattern was observed. The percentage of mothers who had history of induced abortion was decreased from 51.6% in 1979 to 45.1% in 1986. Also, stillbirth rate was decreased from 2.6% in 1977 to 1.5% in 1986. The proportion of the first and second births was increased from 55.4% in 1977 to 96.0% in 1986 and the proportion of mothers of 25-34 years increased from 72.1% in 1977 to 84.7% in 1986. The incidence rates of low birth weight and over weight infant are lower in the first and second births of 25-34 years old mothers than other parities and age groups. Increased mean birth weight and decreased low birht weight incidence rate indicate that the health status of newborn infants has been improved and substantial portion of these changes can be attributed to increase in family planning practice rate and delayed marriage. There is no evidence, however, for increasing incidence rate of overweight infant.

• 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.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.300-305
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• 2005

As the current level of birth rate of Korea has dramatically declined, it is obvious that pediatric dentistry will also be affected by this change. This study was performed for the purpose of understanding on the current fertility levels of Korea. The formal data on the number of live births(NLB), crude birth rate(CBR), and total fertility rate(TFR) published annually from the National Statistical Office of Korea from 1992 to 2000 were used as materials for this study. The TFR values from 1990 to 2002 of Korea were compared with those of some western countries with similar history of decreased birth and the CBR values of the metropolitan cities and the capital city Seoul in 2003 were compared domestically, yielding to results as follows. 1. Recent birth rate of Korea was decreased continuously. NLB was about 490,000 CBR was 10.2 and TFR was 1.19. 2. TFR of Korea in 2002 was 1.17, the lowest in the world. 3. There was a large difference in the NLB and CBR between local prefectures and towns of Seoul domestically. Additional population studies and medico-economical studies to exactly predict the demands of pediatric dentistry and proper supplies of manpower in the future was thought urgently required.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.127-144
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• 2013

The low birth rate in Korea reflects the declining desire to have children in this country due to rising emphasis on personal lifestyle. Since this phenomenon has accelerated, boosting the birth rate has become one of the most important policy tasks in Korea. The purpose of this research was to perform a case study based on women's lived experience to understand how the childbirth encouragement policy promoted by the government in order to boost the birth rate has affected the perception of childbirth among women. The findings are as follows : First, the effect of the childbirth encouragement policy on women's perceptions has been fairly low. Second, the social environment for encouraging childbirth is inadequate. Third, the economic burdens associated with childbirth and child care are still significant. Finally, the impact of the childbirth encouragement policy on changes in the perceptions of childbirth has been minimal. Based on these findings, various motivations for changes in the perceptions of childbirth among women were identified, leading to the following conclusion: Establishing a long-term childbirth encouragement policy is an effective way to boost the childbirth rate.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-47
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to explore subjectivity on childbearing in high school students. Methods: A Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each type was used. Forty-three high school students classified 40 selected Q-statements into 9 points standard. The obtained data were analyzed by using the pc-QUANL program. Results: High school students' subjectivity on childbearing were analyzed into two types: Type 1 turned out to be 'FOLS (family oriented life style)' and Type 2 'CINK (couple important no kid)'. Conclusion: In order to resolve such problems as low birth rate and the advanced age of the population, effective youth and adult programs, policy and institution are required. The current demographic, economic and other factors such as personal values and policies may lower birth rate. In particular, youths' need for children and birth rate tend to be lower. There are positive and negative patterns in high school students' subjectivity on childbearing. Thus, national and social efforts are needed to change negative factors into positive ones. In order to maintain positive subjectivity on childbearing in high school students, it is necessary to apply family-centered educational programs and to implement birth-friendly and realistic programs for promoting child birth.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.70-89
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• 1983

China's population and family planning program has heen successful. Women's fertility as measured by total fertility rate (TFR) has declined from 5.8 in 1970 to 2.3 in 1990, accordingly the annual crude birth rate(CBR) has declined from 34 per thousand in 1970 to 21 per thousand in 1989, and the annual natural growth rate from 2.6 percent in 1970 to 1.4 percent in 1989 (Coale and Chen, 1987; SSB, 1991; Gu, 1994). While this is indeed an astonishing achievement for a developing country to have its fertility down to replacement within a short period, some new issues emerging along with the rapid fertility decline require careful considerations. One of them is the uprising of the sex ratio at birth in China. The 1990 population census reported the sex ratio at birth in China of 113.8 in 1989, which is ohviously much higher than the acceptable level of normal ratio around 106. It has received since then a lot of tention in China and abroad, among demographic professionals and governmental agencies alike (Hull, 1990; Johansson and Nygren, 1991; Xuand Guo, 1991; Tu, 1993; Gu and Xu, 1994; among others). Based on the available demographic data and research results this paper will first have a review of the patterns and trends of sex ratio at birth in China, then turn to the immediate causes of abnormal sex ratio at birth and the determinants of the son preference, followed with a conceptual framework for understanding of the phenomenon, and finally the policy implications and recommendations will be discussed.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8589-8594
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• 2016

Background: Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the world. In Korea, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for liver cancer but infection rates have been declining since the implementation of the national vaccination program. In this study, we examined the secular trends in liver cancer mortality to distinguish the effects of age, time period, and birth cohort. Materials and Methods: Data for the annual number of liver cancer deaths in Korean adults (30 years and older) were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service for the period from 1984-2013. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to study the shapes of and to detect the changes in mortality trends. Also, an age-period-cohort model was designed to study the effect of each age, period, and birth cohort on liver cancer mortality. Results: For both men and women, the age-standardized mortality rate for liver cancer increased from 1984 to 1993 and decreased thereafter. The highest liver cancer mortality rate has shifted to an older age group in recent years. Within the same birth cohort group, the mortality rate of older age groups has been higher than in the younger age groups. Age-period-cohort analysis showed an association with a high mortality rate in the older age group and in recent years, whereas a decreasing mortality rate were observed in the younger birth cohort. Conclusions: This study confirmed a decreasing trend in liver cancer mortality among Korean men and women after 1993. The trends in mortality rate may be mainly attributed to cohort effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.185-195
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) on the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 145 couples who underwent ICSI cycles for unexplained infertility. Based on the SDF rate, patients were categorized into a low SDF group (SDF ≤30%, n=97) and a high SDF group (SDF >30%, n=48). SDF was assessed using the acridine orange test on density gradient centrifugation prepared samples. The CLBR was calculated as the first live birth event per woman per egg collection over 2 years. Results: The high SDF group (SDF >30%) showed a significantly lower CLBR (p<0.05) and a significantly higher miscarriage rate (p<0.05) than the low SDF group (SDF ≤30%). No significant difference was observed in the implantation and cumulative pregnancy rates between the two SDF groups. The total number of embryo transfers was stratified further into fresh and frozen embryo transfers. In the fresh embryo transfers, there were significant differences in the implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, and live birth rates (p<0.05) between the low SDF and high SDF groups. However, in the frozen embryo transfers, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, SDF was a predictor of CLBR (p<0.05) when adjusted for possible confounding factors. Conclusion: High SDF was associated with a lower CLBR and a higher miscarriage rate in the ICSI cycles of couples with unexplained infertility.