• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality using the national population data of South Korea between 2018 and 2020, and to analyze mortality rates according to characteristics such as age, date of death, and cause of death in each group. This study updates the most recent study using 2009 to 2017 data. Methods: Analyses of maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality were done with data identified through the supplementary investigation system for cases of death from the Census of Population Dynamics data provided by Statistics Korea from 2018 to 2020. Results: Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 99 maternal deaths, 2,427 infant deaths, and 2,408 perinatal deaths were identified from 901,835 live births. The maternal mortality ratio was 11.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018; it decreased to 9.9 in 2019 but increased again to 11.8 in 2020. The maternal mortality ratio increased steeply in women over the age of 40 years. An increasing trend in the maternal mortality ratio was found for complications related to the puerperium and hypertensive disorders. Both infant and perinatal mortality continued to decrease, from 2.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 2.5 in 2020 and from 2.8 in 2018 to 2.5 in 2020, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, the maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality statistics showed improvements. However, more attention should be paid to women over 40 years of age and specific causes of maternal deaths, which should be taken into account in Korea's maternal and child health policies.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2015

Objectives : This study presents comparison results of the correlations between ODA grants and health indicators among 23 countries in Asia. Methods : Data from 2005~2013 were collected through the World Development Indicator (WDI) provided by the World Bank (WB). The health-related variables used in this study included the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, incidence of tuberculosis, and prevalence of AIDS. Results : Based on the results, there were positive correlations between ODA grants and health indicators, which means that the overall ODA grants would drop when the health indicators improved. As for differences in the health indicators by income groups among the countries, there were differences in the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, and overall ODA grants. The maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, and infant mortality rate were lower in the order of upper middle, lower middle, and poorest income countries. Conclusions : The findings raise a need for the integrated and horizontal development of Goals 4, 5 and 6 of MDGs in the ODA projects of health sector in the future.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 2000

Studies on the relation between socio-economic factors and metermal and child health have found that poverty, lack of edcation, inappropriate health serives are affecting to maternal and child health. The Gender Related Development Index (GDI) focuses on equality between men and women as well as on the average achiement of all people taken together, using same cariables as the Human Development Index (HDI) which are life expectancy, literacy rate, and per capita GDP. This research is to inverstigate whether HDI and GDI are useful determinants for maternal infant mortality. Using 146 UN member countries date, we condented multiple regression analysis for maternal and infant mortality with three models which are Model(individual variables-literacy rate, per capita GDP), Model(HDI) and Model(GDI). The results showed that HDI and GDI are powerful determinants of both maternal and infant mortality, respectively HDI($\beta$=-1.18, t=3.3; $\beta$=1.04, t=5.1) GDI($\beta$=-1.44, t=3.9; $\beta$=1.28, t=6.5) The higher power in model with GDI for both maternal and infant mortalities represented that GDI was more powerful determinant of maternal and infant mortality, than HDI respectively HDI($R^2$=0.824, $R^2$=0.842), GDI($R^2$=0.834, $R^2$=0.865). In conclusion, the maternal and infant mortalities are explained by GDI than HDI and may be lower in the societies where there are less discimination between men and women.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.459-464
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• 2009

Data and pedigree information for Lori-Bakhtiari sheep used in this study were 6,239 records of lamb mortality from 246 sires and 1,721 dams, collected from 1989 through 2007 from a Lori-Bakhtiari flock at Shooli station in Shahrekord. The traits investigated were cumulative lamb mortality from birth up to 7 days, up to 14 days, up to 21 days, and up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 months of age. The models included fixed factors that had significant effects and random direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood procedure applying three animal models with and without maternal and common environmental effects. The overall mean of cumulative lamb mortality rate was 22.95% from birth to 1 year of age, while the overall mortality rate up to 3 and from 3 to 6 months of age was 6.14% and 12.76%, respectively. The mortality rate after 6 months of age declined as the lambs grew older. The age of dam had no important effect on lamb mortality. The type of birth was more important during the preweaning period than at later ages, and lamb mortality rate was higher in twins. The year of birth, month of birth and sex of lamb significantly (p${\leq}$0.01) affected the cumulative lamb mortality rate at all ages. The least square mean of mortality during the final one-third of the lambing period was higher than the first and middle onethird of the lambing period. Male lambs were found to be at a higher risk of mortality than females. Birth weight of the lamb had a highly significant (p${\leq}$0.01) effect on lamb mortality at all ages as a quadratic regression. Direct and maternal heritability estimates of lamb mortality ranged from 0.01 to 0.13 and 0.01 to 0.05, respectively. Direct heritability increased with age of lamb, while maternal effects (genetic and common environmental) were important in the preweaning period. These results indicate that lamb mortality can be reduced first through farm management practices and secondly by genetic selection. Both animal and maternal effects should be considered in breeding programmes for reducing lamb mortality at preweaning.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.379-387
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal age and infant mortality in Korea(n=617,867). Data of Korean vital statistics linked National Infant Mortality Survey conducted on births in 1999 were used in this study. The odds ratios (ORs) of infant death by maternal age were estimated with the multiple logistic regression model, adjusting for gender, plurality, birth order, low birth weight, and congenital malformation. After adjusting for the relevant variables, the odds of infant death in the group of maternal age with less than 20 years(Odds ratio [OR], 5.29, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.51-7.98), 20-24 years(OR, 1.44, 95% CI, 1.23-1.69), 35-39 years(OR, 1.28, 95% CI, 1.11-1.46), and more than 40 years(OR, 1.94, 95% CI, 1.53-2.45) was higher than that of reference group(25-29 years). In conclusion, the higher infant mortality in the group of maternal age with less than 25 years and more than 35 years in Korea appears to be due to higher proportion of low birth weight and pre-term birth. Prenatal care intervention programs which tackle biological factors for advanced maternal age and address socio-economic problems and social stigma for early maternal age should be devised.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Journal of Health Technology Assessment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Objectives: Maternal morbidity and mortality are important healthcare issues. However there have been few studies on cost of illness (COI) from maternal disorders. This study aimed to estimate the COI due to maternal disorders in Korea. Methods: By reviewing previous studies and consulting expert we determined the scope of maternal disorders. We operationally defined maternal disorders as maternal hemorrhage, maternal sepsis, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, obstructed labor, and abortion for maternal disorders. The reference period of this study is the year 2015. Main source of data were the National Health Insurance Service claims data, cause of death statistics from the Korea National Statistical Office, and the Korea Health Panel study. We classified the total costs into direct and indirect costs. The direct costs cover healthcare costs and non-healthcare costs. The indirect costs consist of productivity losses due to morbidity and premature death. Results: The cost of maternal disorders in 2015 was 229.7 billion won. The direct and indirect costs of maternal disorders were 165.2 billion won and 64.5 billion won respectively. The largest cost item for maternal disorders was healthcare cost (138.3 billion won, 60.2%). By age groups, the COI in 30-39 years old women were the highest (165.1 billion won, 71.9%). Abortion was the disorder with the highest COI among maternal disorders (71.9 billion won, 31.3%). Conclusion: The COI due to maternal disorders in Korea is quite substantial. Economic burden of maternal disorder increased when being compared with the year 2012 data despite the continued low birth rate in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the social costs of the maternal disorders in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study investigated the potential adverse effects of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on pregnant dams and embryonic development following maternal exposure in rats. Methods: MWCNTs were orally administered to pregnant rats from gestational day (GD) 6 through 19 at dose levels of 0, 8, 40, 200, and 1000 mg/kg/day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, oxidant-antioxidant status, gross findings, organ weights, and Caesarean section findings were examined. Results: All animals survived to the end of the study. A decrease in thymus weight was observed in the highest dose group. However, maternal body weight, food consumption, serum biochemical parameters, and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the kidneys were not affected by treatment with MWCNTs. No treatment-related differences in gestational index, embryo-fetal mortality, or fetal and placental weights were observed between treated and control groups. Conclusions: The results show that 14-day repeated oral dosing of MWCNTs during pregnancy induces minimal maternal toxicity at 1000 mg/kg/day in rats. Under these experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of MWCNTs is considered to be 200 mg/kg/day for dams and 1000 mg/kg/day for embryonic development.

• 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.