• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.852-854
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• 2010

Testicular torsion is rare in newborn infants. However, its frequency has increased, most of which are reported in full-term infants. We diagnosed and treated testicular torsion in an extremely low birth weight infant (ELBWI). A $2{\times}2cm$ red mass was palpable in the left groin of a 24-week-old, 745 g, male newborn at 23 days of age. Left testicular torsion was diagnosed, and emergent orchiopexy was performed. Careful physical examination is needed in cases suspicious of testicular torsion in ELBWIs with cryptorchidism. Moreover, early diagnosis and emergent exploration are necessary to prevent complications such as the risk of anorchia.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.117-130
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• 1997

This research was to examine the mother's responsiveness to infant cue in order to improve interaction between mother and infant. The subjects were 144 mothers who gave birth to at general hospital or a public health center in Kangnung. The gestational age of infants was more than 38weeks and birth weight was more than 2500g. A questionnaire was developed by applying the content about infant cue in Barnard's NCAST program. This questionnaire was revised through the examination of expertis in this field. The questions were classified into 3 categories : 10 questions about engagement cue, 11 questions about disengagement cue, and 9 questions about general cue and reflex behavior. Each item measured the mother's responsiveness to infant cue using 5 scales : 2 positive responsiveness, 1 negative responsiveness, and 1 meaningless, 1 for in case which mother can't recognize the meaning of reaction. The result presented that mothers showed positive reaction to engagement cue. However, most mothers still didn't recognize that their infants can lead a mother-infant interaction and show active response in interaction. Mothers tended to treat them as Just passive objects. In disengagement cue, mothers tended not to give proper responsiveness to their infants when the infants desired feeding or not and they did not desire mother -infant interaction. In general cue and reflex behavior, the mother's reaction was positive and they took it granted as a infant's behavior. When each item was analyzed by the general characteristics of the subject, there was significant differences according to the mottler's age, birth weight, average house income, birth order, feeding type, nature of infant, and infant's age.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.237-242
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• 2008

To investigate the trends in the survival rate (SR) for very low birth weight infants (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) in Korea, a total of 43 articles pertaining to SR were analyzed, covering the years from 1967 to 2007. The changes in SR were compared using 5 year periods. The SR for VLBWI has increased remarkably, from 31.8% in early 1960 to 65.8% in early 1990 and 78.8% in early 2000. The SR for ELBWI has increased from 8.2% in early 1960 to 37.4% in early 1990 and 62.4% in early 2000. The SR has improved steeply since early 1990. When the SRs for VLBWI in Korea were compared with those in the U.S.A. and Japan, the figures were 40%, 72%, and 79% in 1985; 65.8%, 82%, and 86% in 1990; 71.3%, 86%, and 88% in 1995; 78.8%, 86%, and 89% in 2000, respectively. Although the recent SRs for VLBWI and ELBWI in Korea has improved rapidly, they have not yet reached the levels in these highly developed countries. To obtain accurate statistics that could be represented as an SR for premature infants in Korea, we have to develop a nationwide network database project.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of multimodal sensory stimulation on growth and mother-infant interaction in infants with low birth weight (LBW). Method: A non-equivalent control group time-series study design was used. The participants were 38 LBW infants and their mothers (19 in the intervention group and 19 in the control group). The data were collected from September 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. For the mothers in the intervention group, this researcher instructed mothers in the multimodal sensory stimulation therapy, in turn the mothers used these techniques on their infants once a day during the 4-week research period. The researcher measured weight, length, and head circumference of the LBW infants once a week for 4 weeks and made a film of the mother playing with the infant for 5 minutes in the last week of the research period. Results: Compared to the control group, LBW infants in the intervention group showed significant increases in weekly weight gain (F=3.82, p=.012) and had significantly higher scores for mother-infant interaction (t=3.93, p>.000). Conclusion: The results suggest that multimodal sensory stimulation therapy can be used to increase the growth of LBW infants and improve mother-infant interaction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.572-586
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the factors that may affect the growth status of preterm infants. Methods: This study included 91 preterm infants born at <37 weeks of gestation (22.9-36.9 weeks of gestation), including 48 (52.7%) males and 43 (47.3%) females. Diet-related data were collected through parental questionnaires, and growth-related data, such as height and weight, were collected through the hospital medical records. Results: No significant difference in weight and growth was observed between early and late preterm infants. On the other hand, smaller averages of all weight z-score (recent weight at 40 weeks of gestation) included lower birth weight, height, and head circumference. On the other hand, infants' birth weight, height, and head circumference in the weight z-score of <0 (<50% in the age-weight growth chart) was smaller than those in the weight z-score of ≥0. Furthermore, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization period and NICU discharge were shorter with growth cessation age in weight z-score of <0. The weight growth velocity was associated with gestational age, birth weight, and medical treatment in the NICU. Thus, parents of preterm infants with low growth rates prefer more community care services for their children. Conclusion: Birth weight, age of preterm infants, and medical treatment in the NICU were factors related to early birth weight growth. Following NICU discharge, poor intake and intake issues were associated with poor growth after 40 weeks of gestation. Therefore, monitoring the growth of preterm infants requires continuous active involvement and supports for growth-promoting factors after NICU discharge.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2016

Survival rates of preterm infants have improved in the past few decades, and central venous catheters play an important role in the intensive medical treatment of these neonates. Unfortunately, these indwelling catheters increase the risk of intracardiac thrombosis, and they provide a nidus for microorganisms during the course of septicemia. Herein, we report a case of persistent bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant, along with vegetation observed on an echocardiogram, the findings which are compatible with a diagnosis of endocarditis. The endocarditis was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy, and the patient recovered without major complications. We suggest a surveillance echocardiogram for ELBW infants within a few days of birth, with regular follow-up studies when clinical signs of sepsis are observed.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.131-149
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• 2012

This study examined the effect of parental socioeconomic position on the association between birth outcomes and infant mortality in early and late 2000's. Linked Birth and Infant Death data sets from 2001 to 2003 (T1) and from 2006 to 2008 (T2), provided by the Korea National Statistical Office, were used for analysis. Birth outcomes were categorized into four groups: normal term, small-for-gestational age (SGA), large-for-gestational age (LGA) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Infant death was defined as the death of a live-born child under one year of age; indicators of parental socioeconomic position were limited to parental education and occupation. The results showed that T2 infant mortality hazard ratios of SGA and IUGR have increased compared to T1. Particularly, preterm and low birth weight babies with shorter gestational age and lighter birth weight than T1 have elevated in T2, possibly indicating that population quality might be continuously aggravated. Moreover, the effect of maternal age on infant mortality has disappeared, rather that of parents' socioeconomic position has increased during the periods, which entailed growing disparities in infant mortality by their social class. Further studies should be therefore done to estimate the effect of parental socioeconomic position on the relationship between birth outcomes and infant mortality in the near future.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.281-290
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the effect of kangaroo care on anxiety and confidence and gratification of mothering role in mothers of low birth weight infants. The subjects were 30 mothers of low birth weight infants, sixteen for the kangaroo care group and fourteen for the control group, whose infants hospitalized in two neonatal intensive care unit at two university-affiliated hospital. The kangaroo care was applied 9 times during the twenty six days with 40 minutes for each session. The kangaroo care provides the skin-to-skin contact during which a low birth weight infant wearing a diaper and a hat is placed on its mother's chest. The questionnaire, state anxiety was completed before beginning the first intervention. The questionnaire, state anxiety and confidence and gratification of mothering role were completed at 2 weeks after discharge. The data were analyzed by a SPSS program. The results were as follows : 1. There were no significant differences in the state anxiety between the kangaroo care and the control group before beginning the first intervention. The state anxiety was significantly lower in kangaroo care group than in control group. 2. The confidence of mothering role was significantly higher in kangaroo care group than in control group at 2 weeks after discharge. 3. The gratification of mothering role was significantly higher in kangaroo care group than in control group at 2 weeks after discharge. 4. In mothers of low birth weight infants, the state anxiety was negatively correlated to the confidence of mothering role and the gratification of mothering role at 2 weeks after discharge. And the confidence of mothering role in mothers of low birth weight infants was positively correlated to the gratification of mothering role at 2 weeks after discharge. These results suggest that kangaroo care is an effective nursing intervention for mothers of low birth weight infants in reducing the state anxiety, improving the confidence and gratification of mothering role.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1451-1460
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• 2005

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the premature infants' responses to infant massage (tactile and kinesthetic stimulation). These responses measured by weight, physiological (vagal tone, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and behavioral responses (behavioral states, motor activities, and behavioral distress). Methods. This study was conducted using an equivalent control pretest-posttest design. The sample was divided into two groups of 13 infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks at birth, birth weight less than 2000g, and no congenital anomalies. The experimental group received the massage intervention twice daily for 10 days. The data were collected for 10 minutes prior to and 10 minutes after the massage. Results. The vagal tone was significantly higher after massage than before massage in the experimental group, while no change in the control group. The experimental group had significantly higher scores for awake state and motor activity than the control group. Significantly greater awake state, more fidgeting or crying, and increased motor activity were reported after massage than before massage. Conclusions. The results of this study showed that massage therapy might enhance optimal physiological responses and behavioral organization of premature infants. Nursing staff in the NICU can use massage to promote the infant's capability to respond positively to his environment and to provide developmental support for healthy premature infants.