• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.5-33
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• 2009

This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Supportive Project for the Priority Region of Educational Welfare Investment(SPPREWI) which has been put into action in Korea as a part of national policies for poor school children. In so doing this study aimed to test SPPREWI's legitimacy as well as whether we have to continue this program or not. In order to fulfill this research purpose researchers identified several outcome indicators of SPPREWI, which represent psychosocial and cognitive adjustment. The variables pertaining to psychosocial adjustment domain are: self-concept; depression, anxiety, and suicidal impulse; inclination of assault and indignation; delinquency; school life adjustment; and change in social relations. The variables of cognitive adjustment include recognition of self-control in learning; control strategy of learning behavior; and preparedness for job hunting. In this study the quasi-experimental group contained students from schools which are under the SPPREWI. The control group was composed of students from schools which were free from SPPREWI but under the influence of deteriorating school environment. The quasi-experimental group and the control group were compared in terms of outcome indicators presented earlier. Within the quasi-experimental group both the students below poverty-line and the students above poverty-line were divided into two groups each by the level of service use, and were compared in terms of the outcome variables presented earlier. Study results supported the argument that SPPREWI was effective generally in improving students' school adjustment. Study results also showed that the variable of 'school nurturance' played a significant role in moderating the effect of SPPREWI on a couple of outcome variables specially when schools' overall educational environment was in poor condition. Implication as well as suggestion were presented on the basis of study findings.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2015

In an effort to expand working opportunities for women and encourage childbirth, the government of Korea introduced the free infant care policy in 2013. This policy, however, was controversial with regard to issues, such as budget shortages and dissatisfaction based on socioeconomic status. In addition, the lack of evidence-based data regarding adequate age criteria for the entry of children into childcare facilities was noted as a challenge. As child development professionals who are concerned with mental health issues, we investigated the influence and challenges of the free infant care policy with regard to infant mental health. In this review, we examined the policies enacted by developed countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), and compared them with those in Korea. The childcare systems in Korea and the UK differ historically and socially, but show some similarities, such as maternal responsibility for parenting and household issues. Like Korea, the need for UK childcare facilities increased in the 1990's in response to market recovery and associated increase in female employment. Among the new policies in the UK, the Sure Start program has begun to provide integrated services for infants, particularly to those 0-4 years of age, who are vulnerable to social exclusion. Similar to the Dream Start program in Korea, it has been successful in providing family-related services, resulting in improvements in problematic behaviors of children, enhanced parenting skills, and decreased rates of severely injured children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2008

Kwashiorkor is a syndrome of severe protein malnutrition, which manifests itself in hypoalbuminemia, diarrhea, dermatitis, and edema. It can be life-threatening due to associated immune deficiency and an increased susceptibility to infections. Kwashiorkor should be treated early with nutritional support and the control of infection. Dilated cardiomyopathy may develop during the treatment and in such cases a poor prognosis is expected. Kwashiorkor has been known as a common disease of poor countries. To date, in fact, there has been no report of kwashiorkor leading to death in technically advanced countries. We here report a fatal case of a baby girl admitted with kwashiorkor. She had been fed only with cereal grain mixed with juice, without any protein supplement, for 2 months. This diet was deficient not because of poverty, but due to the illiteracy of her parents. The patient suffered from diarrhea, whole body edema, hypothermia, and dermatitis. Laboratory findings revealed an immune-deficient state featuring leukopenia and decreased immunoglobulin. Blood and urine cultures revealed Alcaligenes Xylosoxidans growth. The patient was fed frequent small amounts of protein-containing formula and intravenous albumin and micronutrients were administered for nutritional support. She was also treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and antibiotics in order to control infection. Nevertheless, she developed dilated cardiomyopathy and multi-organ failure and died. We review this case in light of the literature.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.197-234
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• 2009

Typological theories of offending postulate that childhood-onset delinquents have a high likelihood of being serious and chronic offenders and that there are a distinct set of risk factors predicting early-onset antisocial behaviors. It is useful to empirically classify children into subgroups based on their deviant behaviors because it helps us to identify unique factors associated with each subgroup. Using the first two waves of the Korean Youth Panel Survey, Elementary School Data, this study aimed(a) to empirically classify 5th graders into latent delinquent subgroups, and (b) to examine the impact of individual, familiar, school, and peer factors on the latent delinquent classes. Latent class analysis yielded three latent classes based on 15 indicators of deviant behaviors - delinquent class, low-level delinquent class, & normative class. The results from multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that being male, reporting low self-control, coming from poor family, high association with deviant peers, and being bullied increased the risk of being in the delinquent class. Moreover, low self-control, aggression, domestic violence, low level of attachment to teachers, and deviant peers independently increased the risk of being in the low-level delinquent class compared to the normative class. Based on the study findings, implications for practice as well as future studies were discussed.