• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.123-132
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to hand washing practice among adolescents before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted using data from the 15th~16th (2019~2020) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, and the subjects of the study were 57,303 and 54,948 people who participated in the 2019 and 2020 study, respectively. The data were analyzed with frequency test, rao-scott 𝑥² test and multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS 27.0. Results: Changes in the hand washing practice rate were observed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in all five behaviors; before eating in school, after using the toilet in school, before eating at home, after using the toilet at home, and after returning home. The study found that the hand washing practice rate increased by 1.21-2.43 times after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, as a result of logistic regression analysis, the hand washing practice rate before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was related to gender, region, school grade, school type, economic status, health status, and personal hygiene education experience. Conclusion: This study confirmed the importance of hand washing education to improve the hand washing practice rate in adolescents. It is necessary to develop and apply an effective youth hand washing education program in consideration of various variables that appeared as significant factors influencing the hand washing practice rate before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.14-26
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• 2022

Objectives: Handwashing is one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This study assessed the related factors and reasons for not practicing handwashing at school among adolescents. Methods: We analyzed data collected from 57,303 adolescents who participated in the 15th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2019. Results: The proportions of not washing hands "before meals at school" and "after using the toilet at school" were 15.9% and 4.4%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio for not washing hands before meals at school was significantly higher in girls (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.52, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]=1.42-1.63), metropolitan city (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.11-1.56), city (OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.08-1.54), higher grade, higher academic performance, lower economic status, not handwashing at home (OR=14.36, 95% CI=13.37-15.42), and without annual personal hygiene education (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.33-1.49). Reasons for not washing hands at school among adolescents who do not wash their hands before meals at school included 'it is bothersome (52.3%)', 'there is no soap or hand sanitizer (13.8%)', and 'I do not feel the need (9.5%)'. Conclusions: Improving handwashing before meals at school among adolescents requires raising awareness of the importance of handwashing before meals and establishing a suitable environment and handwashing-encouraging culture.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.465-475
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• 2019

Objectives: This study investigated dietary and lifestyle factors associated with the weight status among Korean adolescents in multicultural families. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 1,751 multicultural families' adolescents who participated in the 2017-2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Information on dietary and lifestyle factors was self-reported using a web-based questionnaire and this information included breakfast and foods consumption, perceived health status, alcohol drinking, smoking, physical activity, and weight control efforts. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on the self-reported height and body weight (kg/㎡). Weight status was assessed according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart: underweight (weight-for-age <5^th percentiles), overweight (85^th≤ BMI-for-age <95^th percentiles), and obese (BMI-for-age ≥95^th percentiles). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the dietary and lifestyle factors associated with weight status after adjustment for covariates. Results: Among Korean adolescents from multicultural families, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 20.9%, whereas about 7% of adolescents were underweight. The weight status did not show differences according to gender, school level, area of residence, and household income. Compared to adolescents who did not have breakfast during the previous week, those who had breakfast 3-4 days/week and ≥5 days/week had a 42% (p=0.021) and a 37% (p=0.009) lower prevalence of overweight/obesity, respectively. The adolescents who frequently consumed carbonated soft drinks (≥5 times/week) showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.69 (95% CI=1.01-2.83) for overweight/obesity relative to those adolescents who did not consume carbonated soft drinks. The OR of being underweight for adolescents who ate fast food ≥3 times/week was 1.97 (95% CI=1.04-3.71) compared to those adolescents who had not eaten fast food during the previous week. Conclusions: Dietary and lifestyle factors were associated with overweight/obesity as well as underweight among Korean adolescents in multicultural families. Our findings could be used to design and provide nutrition interventions for this specific population.