• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2009

This paper uses a survey data to analyze the age-specific fertility rates, age-specific cumulative fertility rates, and ages of marriage of the five birth cohorts of Korean women born in the 1940s and thereafter. It was found that later cohorts reach their highest age-specific fertility rate at higher ages than earlier cohorts. The age-specific cumulative fertility rates of the 1950s and 1960 cohorts were found to be much lower than those of the immediately preceding cohorts, while those of the 1970s and 1980s cohorts were not different from those of the 1960s cohorts. Women belonging to later cohorts were found to get married at relatively higher ages. The estimation results of the hazard model show that women belonging to later cohorts and those with more schooling have a tendency to get married at higher ages. The effect of the birth cohorts is thought to be due to the economic, social, and cultural changes in Korea during the late 50 years or so. The time interval between a woman‘s marriage and first birth was found not to be affected by either the year of marriage or that of her birth. Also, those who remained employed for some time around their marriage and those with low schooling were found to have a lower first child birth hazard, which implies that married women’s employment status and family income play an important role in their decisions on childbirth.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.1 s.29
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• pp.87-97
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• 1990

We followed up all the infants born to the married women under 50 years of age residing in Gunwee county, Kyungpook Province, between 1 April 1985 and 31 March 1987, and those born to the married women under 50 years residing in Hapchun County, Kyungnam Province, between 1 March 1987 and 28 February 1988, to their first birthday. Likewise, we followed up the infants born to the women who visited the MCH Center of South District Health Center in Taegu City for delivery between 1 April 1985 and 31 March 1987 to the 27th day after birth and obtained the infant mortality rate and the neonatal mortality rate, respectively. There were 17 infant deaths among 1,359 live births in Gunwee and Hapchun Counties and the infant mortality rate was 12.5 per 1,000 live births. Out of 17 infant deaths, 82.4 percent were neontal death and 17.6 percent were postnonatal deaths. Out of the 6,001 live births born to the women visited the MCH Center, 4,834 infants (80.6%) were followed up to the 27th day after birth. Of these 4,834 infants, 36 infants died before the 28th day after birth and thus the neonatal mortality rate was 7.4 per 1,000 live births. Comparison of the maternal characteristics and the birth weight between infants who were followed up and those who were lost to follow-up showed no significant differences. Assuming that the neonatal and postneounatal mortality ratio had been 6:4, the infant mortality rate for the infants born at the MCH Center would have been 12.3 per 1,000 live births. Taking such findings into consideration as the infant mortality rate observed in Gunwee and Hapchun Counties, the neonatal mortality rate at the MCH Center, the causes of infant deaths, and the low birth weight incidence rate, a conservative estimate of infant mortality rate of Korea would be between 12 and 15 per 1,000 live births in $1985{\sim}1988$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.165-173
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• 2016

Purpose: To identify the effects of modified parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral nutrition (EN) regimens on the growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: The study included VLBW infants weighing <1,500 g, admitted to Chungnam National University Hospital between October 2010 and April 2014, who were alive at the time of discharge. Subjects were divided according to 3 periods: period 1 (n=37); prior to the PN and EN regimen being modified, period 2 (n=50); following the PN-only regimen modification, period 3 (n=37); following both PN and EN regimen modification. The modified PN regimen provided 3 g/kg/day of protein and 1 g/kg/day of lipid on the first day of life. The modified EN regimen provided 3.5-4.5 g/kg/day of protein and 150 kcal/kg/day of energy. We investigated growth rate, anthropometric measurements at 40 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) and the incidence of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) at 40 weeks PCA. Results: Across the 3 periods, clinical characteristics, including gestational age, anthropometric measurements at birth, multiple births, sex, Apgar score, surfactant use and PDA treatment, were similar. Growth rates for weight and height, from time of full enteral feeding to 40 weeks PCA, were higher in period 3. Anthropometric measurements at 40 weeks PCA were greatest in period 3. Incidence of weight, height and head circumference EUGR at 40 weeks PCA decreased in period 3. Conclusion: Beginning PN earlier, with a greater supply of protein and energy during PN and EN, is advantageous for postnatal growth in VLBW infants.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.48
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• pp.309.1-309.13
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to observe long-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) born between 2013 and 2014 in Korea, especially focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods: The data were collected from Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) registry from 43 and 54 participating units in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A standardized electronic case report form containing 30 items related to long-term follow up was used after data validation. Results: Of 2,660 VLBWI, the mean gestational age and birth weight were $29^{1/7}{\pm}2^{6/7}$ weeks and $1,093{\pm}268g$ in 2013 and $29^{2/7}{\pm}2^{6/7}$ weeks and $1,125{\pm}261g$ in 2014, respectively. The post-discharge mortality rate was 1.2%-1.5%. Weight < 50th percentile was 46.5% in 2013 and 66.1% in 2014. The overall prevalence of cerebral palsy among the follow up infants was 6.2% in 2013 and 6.6% in 2014. The Bayley Scales of Infant Developmental Outcomes version II showed 14%-25% of infants had developmental delay and 3%-8% of infants in Bayley version III. For the Korean developmental screening test for infants and children, the area "Further evaluation needed" was 5%-12%. Blindness in both eyes was reported to be 0.2%-0.3%. For hearing impairment, 0.8%-1.9% showed bilateral hearing loss. Almost 50% were readmitted to hospital with respiratory illness as a leading cause. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of long-term outcomes was not largely different among the VLBWI born between 2013 and 2014. This study is the first large national data study of long-term outcomes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.187-192
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• 2019

Purpose: The importance of the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants has been emphasized as their mortality rate has markedly improved. This study aimed to assess the validity of the Korean Developmental Screening Test (K-DST), a developmental screening tool approved by the Korean Society of Pediatrics, for the timely diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay in VLBW infants. Methods: Subjects included VLBW infants enrolled in the Korean Neonatal Network database between January 2012 and December 2014. The collected data were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) in the K-DST compared to those in the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II for VLBW infants. Results: A total of 173 patients were enrolled. Their mean gestational age and mean birth weight were $27.5{\pm}2.8weeks$ and $980.5{\pm}272.1g$, respectively. The frequency of failed psychomotor developmental index (PDI) <85 was similar to that in at least one domain of K-DST <1 standard deviation. Failure in more than one K-DST domain compared with a mental developmental index (MDI) <85 showed a sensitivity and NPV of 73.2% and 75.0%, respectively. Failure in more than one K-DST domain compared with PDI <85 showed a sensitivity and NPV of 60.3% and 71.6%, respectively. Each K-DST domain had a stronger correlation with predicting a failing MDI <85 than a failing PDI <85 (P<0.05). Conclusion: K-DST could be a useful screening tool for predicting mental developmental delay in VLBW infants and referring them for neurodevelopmental assessments.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.141-151
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to test the economic rationality hypothesis of the low fertility trap among 412 college students at 13 private universities located in Seoul. The respondents were requested to complete the self-administered questionnaire, and the hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed for analyzing the data. The major findings of this study were as follows: First, the students' views on the prospects for their future employability were 54.6% for big business, 64.51% for medium-sized business, and 49.63% for public sector. In the most employable job, the mean desired monthly salary was 3,505,400 won, while the mean expected monthly salary 2,753,600 won. Second, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the family income in parental home was positively related to youths' consumption aspirations. Finally, the gap between youths' consumption aspirations and their expected income was negatively related to their desired number of children, while not significantly related to their planned age of first child birth. Thus, the low fertility trap hypothesis was supported in terms of birth rate drop, but not supported in terms of childbearing postponement. The implications of the study results are discussed.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.113-132
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• 2021

Despite the diverse system development and improvement initiatives that have been created to improve the environments of child birth and nurturing, the birth rate in Korean society remains low. Some minor teenage single parents give birth and raise children. Teenage single parents are supported by the Single-Parent Family Support Act, but some of their needs are still not being addressed. As each single parent has different backgrounds and socioeconomic characteristics, an investigation is required for developing differentiated support in which they will be considered both parents and children. Therefore, this study identifies the unique problems encountered by teenage parents, focuses on single mothers giving birth, and explores measures that teenage parents can use to be independent members of civil society. Three suggestions are presented for the period from pregnancy and childbearing to parenting. First, there should be an education support plan that will enable them to finish tertiary education, and parent education. Second, measures should be created to initiate a change in direction in indifferent biological(real) fathers: these should enlighten and help them participate in rearing their children. Third, in addition to improvements of the current systems only targeting single parent-family support, which will help differentiate teenage parent support from adolescent single parent-family support, assistance should be given for teenage single parents to grow as a Subject of Rights through tailored independent support programs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1386-1392
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• 2011

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of a polyherbal supplement on cross bred does, starting from the last month of pregnancy to weaning, on milk yield, kid birth weight and growth rate. Thirty does were divided into three treatments of ten each in individual pens: low level supplementation (LS), high level supplementation (HS) and non-supplemented treatment (NS) as control. Low supplemented goats were given 125 mg/kg BW/d of polyherbal combination; high supplemented goats were given 250 mg/kg BW/d. The study was carried out in 2008. Fifty-nine kids were born from all the experimental animals. There was no difference on milk yield between supplemented groups and control (p>0.05), although polyherbal supplementation had positive effect on litter birth weight and growth rate compared to control. Weaning weights were higher (p<0.001) in LS and HS compared to NS does. In both supplemented treatments compared to control, mortalities and morbidities were also lower in kids born. It is concluded that pre-partum to weaning supplementation increases kids growth rates and weaning weights, as well as reduces kid mortalities, but it doesn't have significant effect on milk production.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2004

Low birth rate problem in Korea has been mainly derived from the increasing number of female employment and the change of consciousness of female. According to the recent report, some other causes of low birth rate are from the difficulty of using childcare facilities with quality services and the relative lack of quantities of the facilities. The basic principle of childcare includes protection, education, nutrition, safety, service to parents, and correlation with community. Childcare has been deemed to be the social system even to guarantee the parents' right of work. Even though a lot of progress has been made in childcare facilities by changes for a long period of time, the research on the actual condition shows that there are relatively little changes of the space organization of the childcare facilities reflecting characteristics of community and developmental characteristics of infants and children. Now a days it has been appeared as a social problem that childcare has to be needed as a part of systematic education program for such an important infant era.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2020

As Korea's low birth rate has become a serious social problem, various government-level policy initiatives have been proposed to introduce and expand family-friendly personnel systems for work-family balance. The main causes of low birthrates in Korea are the increased participation of women in economic activities and the difficulties of work-family balance. As part of women's policy, support policies were introduced at various levels such as family-friendly institutions and flexible working systems, but they did not have much effect as an alternative to low birth rates. The implications of family-friendly institutions within the organization beyond low birthrates, which are continuously present, have greater implications at the time of new social transformation. This paper will investigate and discuss the implications of family-friendly policies and the implications of the flexible working system in the civil services.