• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are a unique population as they must adapt in a new country with similar cultural traits but different social, political, and economic systems, but little research has been conducted on diet and nutrition in this population. This study examined food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes among adult NKRs living in South Korea and compared them to those of South Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 139 adult NKRs (25 men, 114 women) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 417 age- and sex- matched South Korean controls (SKCs; 75 men, 342 women) selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Food security and dietary behaviors (meal skipping, eating-out, meals with family, nutrition education and counseling, and nutrition label knowledge and utilization) were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hr recall. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. RESULTS: In South Korea, food security had improved over the previous 12 months, but remained significantly poorer for NKR women than SKC women. Meal skipping was three times more frequent than for SKCs and eating-out was rare. Average energy intake was 1,509 kcal for NKR men and 1,344 kcal for NKR women, which was lower than those of SKCs (2,412 kcal and 1,789 kcal, respectively). Significantly more NKRs (men 24.0%, women 21.9%) showed simultaneously deficient intake in energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and riboflavin than SKCs (men 2.7% (P = 0.003), women 7.0% (P < 0.001)). NKR women had a significantly higher index of nutrient quality (INQ) for some nutrients than SK women. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports significant differences in food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes between NKRs and SKCs. Generally, NKRs reported lower intakes despite improved food security, but relatively good INQs across nutrients. Further research is needed to understand processes of food choice and consumption among NKRs to provide appropriate support aimed at improving diets.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.382-392
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to investigate breast-feeding and breast-feeding health behavior among korean first-time mothers and to provide basic data for promoting breast- feeding. Data were collected by interview or self report from 444 first-time mothers who visited health clinic center in the area of metropolitan, medium or small city, countryside. and whose infants were under 12 months old from January 2001 to February 2001. The results show that breast-feeding was 31.5% in a week after childbirth, 25.8% in 4 weeks after childbirth, 22.7% in 2 months, 17.8% in 3 months, 14.3% in 6 months, 2.5% in 12 months after childbirth. Breast-feeding rate was very low in Korea and the duration of breast-feeding was very short. Breast-feeding health behavior did not show significant differences by general characteristics of the subjects except area. The subjects in the health clinic center with MCN project did better breast feeding health behavior than the subject in the health clinic center without MCN project. To raise breast-feeding rate, several strategy could be suggested. Systemic education about importance and advantages of breast-feeding and desirable breast-feeding method should be provided to pregnant women and postpartum women. Childbirth leave in the work should be prolonged, and supportive facility such as nursery room should be installed for working mothers. Hospitals should follow the guideline of 'Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative' which was provided by UNISEF and WHO, including rooming-in after delivery.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTTIVES: The purposes of the study were to investigate folate intakes and plasma folate concentrations as well as estimate folate status in Korean healthy adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 254 healthy 19- to 64-year-old adults (68 men and 186 women) living in Seoul metropolitan area, Gumi, and Kwangju, Korea participated. Three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, information on folate supplementation, and fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects. RESULTS: The mean dietary folate intakes were 587.4 and $499.2{\mu}g$ dietary folate equivalent (DFE)/day for men and women, respectively. The median dietary intakes of men and women were 566.6 and $474.6{\mu}g\;DFE/day$, respectively. Forty subjects (16.7% of total) less total folate than the estimated average requirement (EAR). Folate intakes of 23.3% of men and 34.8% of women aged 19-29 years did not meet the EAR for folate. Major food sources consumed for dietary folate were baechukimchi (Chinese cabbage kimchi), rice, spinach, eggs, and laver, which provided 44% of dietary folate intake for the subjects. Plasma folate concentrations were 23.4 nmol/L for men and 28.3 nmol/L for women, and this level was significantly lower in men than in women. Approximately 13% of men and 3% of women were folate-deficient, and the percentages of subjects showing folate concentrations lower than 10 nmol/L were 27.9% of men and 6.4% of women. CONCLUSIONS: Folate intakes of Korean adults in this study were generally adequate. However, one-third of young adults had inadequate folate intakes.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.613-630
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• 2013

This study attempts to analyze the spatial characteristics of organic agriculture in Korea during the period of 2000~2010, focusing on women's labor contribution to agricultural operations. Spatial distribution and concentration of organic farming have been investigated using Location Quotient(LQ) and Local Indicator of Spatial Association(LISA), it was found that the specialized organic farmland in the Seoul Metropolitan area has decreased significantly over the past decade, while in Chungnam and Kyungpook province it has been rapid growth in the same period. Multilinear regression analysis was also carried out to find out whether the spatial clusters in organic farming depends on women farmers. Results describing the correlation between organic farming and women farmers within identified clusters suggest that the possibility of the transition towards sustainable agriculture and farmland restructuring in Korea, by women.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.155-162
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• 2012

The population of Korea is ageing as the number of elderly people increases due to improvements in health care and diet. Accordingly, it is expected that interest in how to live actively during the years after retirement and how to communicate effectively will increase the demand for voice improvement methods and technology. However, the criteria to evaluate the voice strength and characteristics of the elderly are lacking. In this study, we analyzed the acoustic characteristics of elderly women living in the community according to residential status and mental health status (e.g. depressive mood). Accordingly, we selected women (n=63) above the age of 65 age who were living in the Seoul metropolitan area and Daegu Gyeongbuk. The selected subjects were divided into two groups: a normal speaker group (n=40) and a speaker group comprised of those suffering from depressive mood (n=23). This study analyzed the voice characteristics of subjects based on collected data through the sustained phonation of the vowel /a/. It was shown that there were differences among MPT, F0, Jitter, Shimmer and NHR depending on location of residence but no difference with regard to depressive mood. Therefore, we must consider location of residence in elderly as the key factor in demonstrating the voice norms of seniors.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.129-142
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• 2011

This study investigates the patterns of labor market polarization and analyzes the characteristics and roles of regional labor market in the structuring process of the polarization in the metropolitan areas of Korea. The labor market polarization plays a role of key mechanism for deepening social exclusion in the area through expanding low-pay jobs and working poor. It is of great significance to adopt a spatial approach of local labor market in order to understand underlying dynamics of labor market polarization. Especially it is necessary to develop a more differentiated and systematic policy options based on the analysis of labor market polarization in the metropolitan areas of Korea. It is because understanding spatial differentiation of labor market dynamics is essential to figure out the structuring processes of poverty and sociall exclusion in the metropolican labor market in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.62 no.7
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the hairstyle behavior, hairstyle image preference and life satisfaction of women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, and to examine the differences of the hairstyle behavior, hairstyle image preference, and preferred hairstyle according to demographic variables. The research method was a survey method using a questionnaire. Total of 674 women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s were tested, 309 of whom residing in the Seoul metropolitan area, with the remaining 365 residing in Gangweon-Do. Life satisfaction factors such as socio-economic satisfaction, happiness, and physical satisfaction significantly influenced the women's hairstyle behavior. The women with higher level of physical satisfaction had higher level of conformity, individuality, fashion, and interpersonal orientation of hairstyle. It also showed that the higher the level of socio-economic satisfaction meant greater preference for graceful hairstyle images. As well as the level of happiness correlated with the preference for feminine and sophisticated hairstyle images. The women who preferred long layered wave hairstyles liked feminine, natural, and sophisticated hairstyle images. The women in their late 40s had higher interpersonal orientation of hairstyle than those in their early 20s and 30s. Overall, a natural hairstyle image was favored the most, whereas a unique image was favored the least.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was done to compare prenatal education programs for anxiety and labor efficacy in third trimester women. Method: The subjects were 95 primigravida who attended a prenatal education program at H and B hospital in Kyounggi province and a health center in Chungbuk province and in the Incheon metropolitan area. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, and trait and state anxiety, and labor efficacy were measured. The data was analyzed by frequency, mean, and paired t-test. Result: In this study, there was a high level of anxiety in the primigravida. After the program, only state anxiety was decreased significantly at the attendants of the health center. Labor efficacy was a little increased, but this was not significant. Anxiety was increased and labor efficacy was decreased in the attendant of a private hospital. Conclusion: These education programs were not so effective to decrease anxiety and to increase labor efficacy. For on effective program to increase labor efficacy, it is necessary to standardize prenatal education program content and to revise it to decrease state anxiety closer to delivery. It is necessary to discover why these programs were not effective.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2010

Recently, house demander's needs has diversified in the increasingly by the drastic change in the social environment, changes in family structure and population, the growing interest of living environment. So in the future, housing supply to respond to a variety of housing needs is absolutely necessary to differentiate. The purpose of this study is to analyze the lifestyle types of middle-aged married women with high purchasing power in the current housing market and propose the dwelling style by housing awareness and needs analysis. To collect the data, LOV survey method was used for 528 residents in Seoul and metropolitan area. The data analysis used SPSS PC 14.0 to find the frequency, chi-square, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. The results of analysis are as follows: First, the lifestyle was segmented into four groups such as Conservative goal-achieving lifestyle, Individual self-developing lifestyle, Positive self-trusting lifestyle, Outgoing trend-seeking lifestyle. Second, largely the dwelling style according to lifestyle types was divided into living room-kids room type and living room-kitchen type. Third, there were different preferences on the each type of housing space and the $\alpha$-space by different clusters.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.143-158
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine the protective factors that strengthen the adaptation ability by analyzing individual, family, and social activities variables which impact on the adjustment of retired men. The sample for final data analysis was 233 questionnaires completed by retired men aged from 45 to 65 years living in Seoul and the Metropolitan area. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS/WIN which included Frequencies, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results were as follows: 1. The degree of the retired men's adaptation was 3.22 out of 5. 2. The retired men's adaptation was affected by the variables in the following order: marital satisfaction, economic life satisfaction, acceptance for retirement, recreational facilities satisfaction, recognition for retirement, and cohesion. These variables explained 65.3% of the retired men's adaptation to life. The findings of this study could be utilized as basic data for developing educational programs and guiding policy-making to help retired men achieve development.