• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

In recent years, reductions in infant mortality have mainly been accomplished by improving the survival of premature and low birth weight infants, however premature infants still remain at great risk. The purpose of this study was to review the maternal child health service related to premature infants and to provide a future direction for improving maternal child health (MCH) in Korea. We reviewed two MCH services which are directly related to premature infants: 1) a registry and financial support program for families with a premature infant, and 2) financial support to build neonatal intensive care units in rural public hospitals. Suggestions are made for the development of a national vital signs record system to identify high risk infants and to monitor the trends in infant mortality due to prematurity. Prevention efforts and preconception care for childbearing women is also an important strategy to reduce the rate of preterm births. Finally, we need consider long-term follow-up plans for premature infants for a successful transit to the special education system. Developing MCH policy related to premature infants that decreases the occurrence of premature may decrease infant mortality, and also improve maternal and child health services.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Health Promotion Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.11-12
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• 1998

The health status of a population is usually measured by mortality such as crude dealth rate, cause-specific mortality rate, infant mortality rate and life expectancy. However, these indices based upon mortality (i.e., quantity of life) are increasingly unsatisfactory to assess health status, especially in an aging society. In this presentation, I will discuss the followings as regards quality of life (QOL) in health science.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 1986

Death is one of the population movement phenomena used as an important health index in most society. Especially it is regarded as group phenomenon in a specific group rather than individual one and considered important in public health field because the level and cause of death is related to health of public. The auther examined the changes of the Korean mortality pattern to evaluate the status of the Korean public health by studying mortality indicator using the population census and other materials from 1930 to 1980. The results are as follows: First, the Korean crude death rate was reduced to one third in 1980 compared to that in 1930, but the crude birth rate was constant from 1930 to 1960 causing the increase of population. So the population pattern is changing from the classic pyramic shape to bell shape and the dependency ratio was reduced from 78 in 1930 to 61 in 1980. Second, the infant mortality rate decrease rapidly. In 1980 it was one seventh of that in 1930 which was proved by the change of the age-specific death rate curve from U to J shape. Third, the male mortality reduction after the age of forty was much less than that of female, which explained the specific death pattern of high mortality in Korean middle and oldaged males. Fourth, the main cause of death was changed from infectious, parasitic, respiratory and digestive system disease to circulatory of tumorous diseases. Considering the above results, Korean health problem is now changing from the infant infection to geriatric chronic regressive disease. That naturally the direction of health service should be turned from the infant stage maternal and child health to the health problems of old people.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.20 no.4 s.112
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• pp.77-85
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• 1981

This study was undertaken in an attempt to identify level of birth and infant death in the KHDI demonstration areas. The objectives of this study are to collect available information on birth and infant death in the KHDI demonstration areas, and estimate

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.99-107
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• 2021

Purpose: Studies have been conducted on the prevalence and infant mortality rate of congenital anomalies; however, studies on child mortality are rare. Therefore, we evaluated the characteristics of deaths associated with congenital anomalies among children born in Korea who died within 5 years of age. Methods: Birth-to-death cohort linked data of children under the age of 5 years from 2010 to 2013, and statistical data on the cause of death by age from 1999 to 2019, both provided by the Korea National Statistical Office's Microdata Integrated Service, were retrospectively investigated. We investigated the trends and characteristics of mortality associated with congenital anomalies. Results: Among 1,858,945 children, 6,510 children who died were under 5 years of age, and among them, 1,229 deaths were associated with congenital anomalies, while 5,281 deaths were due to other causes. Deaths associated with congenital anomalies accounted for 18.9% of all deaths. When comparing congenital anomalies by systems, anomalies of the cardiovascular system (52.6%) were the most common. The mortality rate associated with congenital anomalies and those of other causes showed similar declining trends in 21 years. Conclusion: The mortality rate of congenital anomalies during the first 5 years of life did not increase differently from the prevalence of congenital anomalies but rather decreased. Deaths associated with congenital anomalies accounted for 20.5% of all infant deaths and 12.1% of child deaths, since the major causes of death in infants and children are slightly different, continuous and careful monitoring is required.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.33-62
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relative importance of three factor -socioeconomic development, public health development, egalitarian nature of socioeconomic development- affecting mortality declines. Infant mortality rate and life expectancy at birth are used as the mortality index, that is the dependent variables, while GNP is used as the indicator of socioeconomic development, primary school enrollment ratio of female as the indicator of egalitarian nature of socioeconomic development, population per hospital bed as the indicator of public health. The data of these variables are collected two time-periods -before 1970 and during 1970-1980- over 50 countries. The explanatory data analysis is used as the statistical technique. We can find whether the relationship between dependent variable and independent variables are linear or nonlinear, and which case is the influential case in our model. The main results of this study are followings. First, the association between infant mortality rates and four indices are not linear. The most important factor explaining the variation of infant mortality is GNP, while primary enrollment of female is the second and GINI is the third important factor. However, population per hospital bed does not have a significant effect on the infant mortality rates in this study. Second, life expectancy at birth is log-linearly related to GNP. Unlike infant mortality rates, the most important factor explaining the variation of life expectance at birth is women's education and the next important factor GNP, and then the third one GINI. But, still population per hospital bed is not significantly related to the variation of life expectance in this study.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2010

Objectives : Platinum nanoparticles (PNPs) are potentially useful for sensing, catalysis, and other applications in the biological and medical sciences. However, little is known about PNP toxicity. In this study, adverse effects of PNPs on the postnatal development of mouse pubs were investigated. Methods : PNPs (size: 20 nm) were prepared and orally administered to mice during premating, gestation, and lactation periods (0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, and 1 mg/kg). Maternal and pup toxicity were evaluated. Results : PNPs did not affect blood biochemical parameters or mortality in dams during the experimental period. Histopathological signs were not observed and pup number was not different between the control and treated groups. Deformity and stillbirth were not observed in the pups. However, PNPs increased pup mortality and decreased the infant growth rate during the lactation period. Conclusion : PNPs may have adverse effects to the postnatal development of mouse pups.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.183-203
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• 2005

Over the past four decades reproductive behavior has changed rapidly in much of the developing countries. The average total fertility rate has fallen by half from six or more to near three today. Between 1960 and 2000 the largest fertility decline occurred in Asia and Latin America. The mortality rate has decreased in most developing countries. The purpose of this study is to review the pattern of demographic transition in developing countries. At first, this study focuses on the regional fertility transition. In Africa, the total fertility rate has decreased from 6.59 to 4.85 between 1960 and 2000. However, the rate has rapidly fallen from 5.76 to 2.34 in East Asia. The same pattern is found in Latin America. The mortality rate has also decreased in most of developing countries. It is also interesting to find that there is a clear difference among developing countries. In terms of crude death rate, Latin American countries show the lowest rate, while African countries remain still high rate. The study also shows the relationship between socioeconomic indicators and fertility/mortality in developing countries. The result supports the hypothesized relationship between education and fertility. However, the effects of urbanization and income on fertility do not show consistent result. About mortality rate, however, the study shows the significant relationship between urbanization and infant mortality rate, between income and mortality. The study finally emphasizes that we should include 'AIDS' in the study of mortality in African countries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.914-921
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• 1994

From May 1977 to November 1993, 1, 500 cases of open heart surgery were performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass. In 1500 cases of open heart surgery 975 cases[65%] were congenital heart disease and 525 cases[35%] were acquired heart disease. In 975 cases of congenital heart disease, there were 812 cases[83%] of acyanotic congenital heart anomaly and 163 cases of cyanotic congenital anomaly. In 525 cases of acquired heart disease, most cases were valvular heart disease in which 557 valves were implanted. The each operative mortality of congenital and acquired disease was 7.7% and 7.4% respectively and then overall mortality rate was 7.6%. There has been increasing incidence of open heart surgery in infants in recent years. After 1990, 28 cases of infant open heart surgery below the 12month were performed. Most lowest weight was 2, 200g[15 days]. Operative mortality of open heart surgery in infant with weight below the 10kg was very high as a 25.7%.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.155-182
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• 1997

Objectives : This study was designed to compare North Korea and South Korea in measures of the quality of life (physical quality of life index and human development index) and to investigate the impact of selected medical and socioeconomic factors on PQL variables. Data and Methods : The World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and Population Reference Bureau were the principal sources of statistical data of 121 countries. Variables included infant mortality, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, secondary school enrollment (male and female), GNP per capita, population per doctor, daily calorie supply per capita, and a composite PQL index. The Ordinary Least Square model was employed for cross-countries analysis. Findings : Both countries under quite different political and economic systems saw big improvememts in the quality of life, reducing mortality and prolonging life expectancy during the past three decades. In recent decad, however, North Korea has experienced abrupt exacerbation in the quality of life. Significant improvements in infant mortality of the population wer attributable mainly to GNP per capita and the secondary school enrollemt of female. The principal predictors of life expectancy at birth were population per doctor, infant mortality, and literacy rate. The secondary school enrollment of female and population per doctor were significantly associated with improvements in the physical quality of life index (PQLI). Conclusion : The results of this study confirmed a point illustrated by other studies : The association between quality of life as a measure of health status and socioeconomic factors was strong and positive. The important contribution of educational attainment in general, female education level in particular to improvements in the quality of life deserves good news for building an integrated health care system in the reunified Korea, taking into account the high level of education two koreas are enjoying. Meanwhile, when a sharp drop in the quality of life has been observed in North Korea under serious economic difficulties and food shortage in recent decade, the significant contribution of economic development to improvements in the quality of life poses bad nows for reunifying Korean health care in economic terms.