• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.36-53
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• 1987

It is utmostly important to establish the efficient fitable way of peoples' active participation in primary health care especially in the areas where the public or governmental service input for the basic health care is insufficient like as in rural areas of Korea. In light of above reason, this study focused mainly on the evaluation of roles and activities of village health workers (VHWs) who were selected from grass- root level of village people in order to derive further motivation for active participation. This is believed to be a sort of feedback mechanisms. Actually, the authors collected the activity reports of VHWs who had been devoting themselves in the primary health care services of Jeomdong Area, of Yeoju Gun one of Korea University Community Health Action Programmes and survey record on the VHWs activity from correspondent people. 1 hose data were analyzed through computer programmed package. The activities performed by VHWs were limited to the performance in 1985 for conveniance. The summarized results were as follows; 1) General characteristics of VHWs. Among a total of 28 VHWs in the area, about 39.3g of them have been replaced up to the date since the implementation in 1983, because of moving out, occupational employment and of others. The age of majority (75.0%) lied between the range of 30-50, and educational background of 67.9% belonged to category of primary school graduation, about 50% of them experienced to be or were also entiled "chief of women club" of corresponding villages. 2) Work-load of VHWs. Each VHW was assigned for tasks of health care for average 55 households of 248 persons. They shared approximately 6 days a month for the activity in average and it covered 17 cases of basic health care in a month. A half of the VHWs performed home visits irregularly without solidified schedule. 3) Work performance analysis. Informations collected through VHWs were compared with data from official vital registration at local administration center "Myon Office" in 1985. VHWs collected 100.8 of new born, 116.2 of death, 58.3 of move in and 74.8 of move out in comparison with 100.0 of official registration each. Pregnant women of 79.8% of mothers among the total pregnancy of 94 which were confirmed as normally delivered or aborted cases by all means afterwards had been detected by VHWs as being pregnant and all of them received some of antenatal cares by VHWs. All(100%) of delivered women were detected by VHWs through home visits and they were cared postnatally. Whereas, according to the records of birth registration, the places of delivery were clinic in 33.7%, and mother's home in 66.3%, VHWs reported them to be clinic in 48.9%, midwifery in 20.2%. It was cleared that most of misinformation was caused by uncautious filling of birth registration at notification. Among the total of 717 eligible women under age 44 years, family planning status of 92.6% was reported by VHWs confirming practice of control to be 70.8% of reported fertile women. 4) Attitude of VHW on the roles and functions. Although 92.0% of VHWs expressed VHWs to be worthwhile, only 52.0% of them had dignity and satisfaction in their activity and 44.0% of them had passive attitude of working saying they followed direction regardlessly. Concerning difficulties in performance as a VHW, 60.7% of them pointed out lacking of medical and health related knowledge by themselves. Still, 64.0% of them thought visiting unfamilier house to be awful and 40.0% complained forms of activity to be difficult and hard. It was also revealed that 56.6% confessed lack of interest on community health service itself. Most of VHWs needed more educational training especially on clinical fields such as cares of gynecological diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseaes of the aged. Regular on-the-job basic trainings were said to be needed twice a year.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of a maternal-child health education program for nurses in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: One-group pre-posttest design was used. The maternal-child health (MCH) education program was given to nurses from 5 health centers in Tigray, Ethiopia. Knowledge and confidence levels were measured before and after each education session. Data were analyzed using paired t-test. Results: The topics of the 5 educational sessions were family planning, antenatal care, care during labor, immunization, and integrated management of neonate, and child illness. Knowledge scores (1st: Z=3.931, p=.001; 2nd: Z=6.189, p <.001; 3rd: Z=5.658, p <.001, 4th: Z=8.734, p <.001, 5th: Z=14.167, p <.001) and confidence levels (1st: Z=8.467, p <.001; 2nd: Z=4.183, p <.001; 3rd: Z=4.992, p <.001) improved significantly. Conclusion: The findings of this study imply that the MCH education program for nurses was effective in developing the maternal-child health capacity of the nurses in Tigray, Ethiopia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

Purpose : The aim of this study was to analyze the results and contributing factors of catch-up growth in very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) at the corrected age of 2 years. In addition, we looked for a relationship between the catch-up growth and the development by the bayley scales of infant development II(BSID II). Methods : A retrospective analysis by evaluating medical records was done for the 76 VLBWI whose follow-up was possible up to a corrected age of 2 years, out of the 114 who had been treated in the neonatal intensive care unit during the January of 2000 to December of 2001 at Samsung Cheil Hospital. Based on the Standard Korean Infant's Growth Curve, the catch-up growth group was defined over the 10th percentile of weight at 2 years as the corrected age and the failed catch-up growth group was defined under the 10th percentile. We investigated the clinical factors and courses of each group and compared the scores of the BSID II. Results : The catch-up growth group of the VLBWI was 51 infants and the failed catch-up growth group was 25 infants. In comparison with maternal clinical factors, use of antenatal steroids was significantly higher in the catch-up growth group. In comparisn with clinical factors and courses of VLBWI, two clinical factors were significantly different between the two groups : birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR). Numbers of delayed development were increased in the failed catch-up growth group but statistically significant differences could not be observed. Conclusion : The catch-up growth of the VLBWI was affected by the use of antenatal steroids, birth weight and IUGR. No significant differences regarding neurodevelopmental outcome were observed between the catch-up and failed catch-up growth groups.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.81-91
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• 1974

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of obstetric knowledge of pregnant women and postpartum mothers, and to contribute the data to community health teaching program as well as maternity nursing. 385 pregnant women and postpartum mothers visited at or admitted to Seoul Adventist Hospital were sampled. The results of the study were as follows. 1. 97.9% of the subjects were between the age of 21 to 35, most of them (82.9%) were housewives with high school education and with a middle class family background. 2. The first symptoms of pregnancy were amenorrhea (70.4%), nausea & vomiting (23.9%), change of skin color (1.6%). 3. 77.9% of the subjects did not know how to deal with morning sickness. 4. 52.9% did not know when the sex determination of the fetus-occurs. 5. Concerning the fetus position; 77.1% of them believed it lies head down. head up (12.0%). and not knowing (10.9%). 6. 73.2% recognized the need for a well balanced food during pregnancy. 7. As to the dangerous symptoms during pregnancy: vaginal bleeding was considered the 1st, edema, the and, continuous abdominal pain, the 3rd. 82% of them would confer with physician in case of vaginal bleeding. As to the type of activities restricted by pregnancy: hard exercise was considered first, travel the second, and coitus during 1st and last trimester of pregnancy the 3rd. 8. 82.4% of them visited antenatal clinic at the second or third month of amenorrhea and 88.5% realized the regular physical examination imperative. 9. The purpose of urine test was recognized correctly by 44.7%, blood test: 89.4%, B. P. and weight check ; 69.9%. 10. The need of breast care during pregnancy was recognized by 76.9% of the subject. 11. 75.8% realized that prenatal exercise was needed. The higher the education the better the understanding of the need for it before delivery. 12. The concept of postpartum period was understood correctly by 54.4%. 13. The state of uterus after delivery was understood correctly by 49.1% only. 14, Regarding the management of colostrums: 48.3% knew it was to feed infants, and it was to squeeze and discard 43.4%. 15. Dealing with postpartum exercise; 67.8% answered it was needed, 9.1% not needed, not heard about 23, 1%.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-37
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• 2006

Using Grounded Theory. the present study was to discover structure and process of pregnant women's information seeking experience through identifying concepts and relationships of the experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Participants selected by theoretical sampling. The findings were : 1) Pregnant womens' information seeking was caused by Acceptance of Pregnancy . 2) The phenomenon of information seeking was for Maintaining Normalcy to Pregnancy(MNP), 3) MNP occurred in connection with Perceived Anxiety and Desire to Know 4) Action/interaction Strategies to MNP were related to the Awareness of Ways Acquiring Information. Previous Knowledge. Self-Regulation, and Information Access Environment. 5) Action/interaction Strategies to MNP were Seeking Diagnostic Data of Antenatal Care. Seeking Standard Knowledge. Seeking Experience. and Seeking Emotional Support. 6) As consequences of taking strategies, pregnant women were experienced in Sufficient. or Insufficient. 7) A three-stage process of information seeking was discovered : Comparing, Contextualising, Making sure. 8) In terms of change of information needs during pregnancy, a four-phasic process was discovered. Acceptance Phase. Adjusted Phase, Focusing Phase, and Transitional Phase. Based upon these results. it needs to generate a substantive theory contributed to holistically explain and predict pregnant women's information seeking behavior.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.92-95
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• 2015

Purpose: Increased maternal age is a major risk factor for chromosomal abnormalities. The maternal age-specific risk of fetal trisomy was theoretically calculated. We investigated the actual frequency of fetal trisomy between 16 and 24 gestational weeks in pregnant women over the age of 34 at delivery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively, over a four-year period, reviewed the medical records of women with singleton pregnancies that started their antenatal care before the 10th week of pregnancy. Pregnant women aged 34 to 45 years at the time of delivery were enrolled and divided into groups of one-year intervals. We investigated the frequency of Down syndrome and all trisomies as a function of the maternal age and compared with the theoretical maternal-age-specific risk. Results: Of the 5,858 pregnant women enrolled in the study, the rate of trisomy 21 was 0.29% (17 cases). The observed frequencies of trisomy 21 in women with maternal ages of 35 years and 40 years were 1:1,116 and 1:141, respectively. The rate of all trisomies was 0.39% (23 cases). The observed frequencies of all trisomies in women with maternal ages of 35 years and 40 years were 1:372 and 1:56, respectively. Conclusion: The frequencies of Down syndrome and all trisomies were proportional to the maternal age. However, the observed frequencies of Down syndrome and all trisomies between the 16 and 24 gestational weeks were lower than the theoretical rates.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.131-143
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• 1974

Antenatal care is zoomed toward3 assisting the Individual to achieve safe and wholesome state of health during pregnancy. Nature of fear is assumed to be rooted to complex interaction between past experiences, human relationship and present state of health, however. specific relationship between fear and the variables have not yet been ascertained. This study is designed to investigate the nature of fear of pregnancy, and the correlation between fear and the personal and environmental variables such as personal characteristics past experiences. and psycho-social factors. During the period from October 23 to November 5, 215 pregnant and 104 non-pregnant women of similar chronological are group residing in Seoul were interviewed according to check-list by random General anxiety test, general personality test and test for fear of pregnancy, family according to specific variables such as past experiences of Pregnancy and childbirth, structure of family, family relationship and month of pregnancy was done to the group of pregnant women. To non-pregnant group, general anxiety test was performed to compare with pregnant group. Results of the study are as follows; 1. Hypothesis 1; Degree of general anxiety will be higher e pregnant women compared to that of non-pregnant women. There is no significant difference between the general anxiety of pregnant women and that of non-pregnant women. Therefore, hypothesis I is rejected. 2. Hypothesis 2: Fear of pregnancy and general anxiety will be correlated with personality factors. Through test for fear of pregnancy and general anxiety, a meager contra-correlation between fear and only two personal factors (R and E factor) is revealed but there is no significant correlation between fear and other personal factors (A.S. and T factor). Degree of fear of pregnancy tends to b: higher in the group with low personality factors; responsibility and emotional stability expect the correlation between ascendancy, sociability, and confidence-inferiority. non-significant. Through general anxiety test, level of general anxiety tends to be higher in the group. with low personality factors; responsibility. emotional stability, and confidence except ascendency and sociability, non-significant. Hypothesis 2 is partially supported. 3. Hypothesis 3; General anxiety and fear of pregnancy will be correlated with the past experience-ol pregnancy, and child-birth experience. Though general anxiety test and test for fear of pregnancy, non-significant difference is revealed by P〉.05 level Hypothesis 3 is rejected. 4. Hypothesis 4: General anxiety and fear of pregnancy will be correlated with the month at pregnancy will be correlated with the month of pregnancy. Through tests of general anxiety and fear, significant correlation is revealed degree of fear by-P〈.05 level (CR=1.98) and level of general anxiety by P〈.005 level (CR=3. 11) is higher in the earlier stage of pregnancy. Hypothesis 4 is supported. 5. Hypothesis 5, 6, 7; General anxiety and fear of pregnancy will be correlated with socio-economic status, family structure, and family relationship. Through general anxiety test and tear of pregnancy test, non-significant is revealed by P〉.05 level. Hypothesis 3.6.7 are rejected. Conclusion and recommendation Level of general: anxiety and degree of fear of pregnancy is shown not to be correlated with variables of past experiencers of pregnancy and child-birth. and family factors except the month of - pregnancy. Personal characteristics are shown to be partially contra-correlated meagerly with genera anxiety and fear of pregnancy. This study revealed contrasted results, in regard to presence of correlation between general anxiety and fear of pregnancy to other thesis. In this context. further studies under controlled environment is recommended.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2003

Purpose : Ureteral duplication is a common urologic anomaly and early diagnosis may prevent irreversible renal damage. We thus aimed to evaluate the benefits of prenatal sonography in early detection. Methods : We retrospectively studied 55 children with duplicated systems who were admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea from January 1998 to July 2003. Results : The mean age at diagnosis was 2.3 years old. 89% of the children had complete duplicated ureter. 47% of the children visited the hospital with an initial complaint of abnormal prenatal sonographic findings. Among these patients, 70.8% had DMSA defects. The mean differential renal function(DRF) in the DMSA scan was 48.2% in the group diagnosed prenatally. In the postnatally-diagnosed group, DMSA defects were found in 67.7% patients and the mean DRF was 45.5%. Conclusion : In comparison with the past studies, the mean age at diagnosis is becoming younger, and the proportion of abnormal prenatal sonography as an initial complaint larger. Other clinical manifestations were similar. The difference of the renal damage between the prenatally diagnosed group and the postnatally diagnosed group was not statistically significant. A multi-center study may help to prove the importance of prenatal sonography in early diagnosis and treatment of ureteral duplication. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2003;7:189-196)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1324-1329
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate recent improvements in the survival rate of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and to identify perinatal and management factors that are associated with improved survival. Methods : Two groups of ELBW infants who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during two distinct eras : November 1994-December 1999 (Period 1 : n=100) and January 2000-April 2004 (Period 2 : n=166) were retrospectively reviewed. Results : Despite the younger gestational age and smaller birth weight of the ELBW infants in period 2, not only did their survival rate increased to 75 percent from 60 percent in period 1, but their incidence of morbidities such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, confimed sepsis and intraventricular hemorrhage (${\geq}$Grade III) also declined. Factors significantly associated with improved survival included the use of antenatal steroids, a longer duration of nasal continuous positive airway pressure and the absence of intraventricular hemorrhage (${\geq}$Grade III). Conclusion : We believe that optimized clinical practice, that emphasized less invasive care, contributed to the recent improvements in the survival rate of ELBW infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.740-745
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• 2007

Purpose : There is a dominant opinion that in vitro fertilization (IVF) leads to an increased incidence of twins, low birth weight (LBW) infants, prematurity and mortality. On the other hand, technical development of IVF and improvement of neonatal intensive care have increased the survival rate of neonates. The purpose of this study was to verify the tendency by comparing the clinical aspects of IVF and spontaneously conceived twins, and to establish methods to increase the survival rate of neonates after IVF. Methods : Retrospective reviews were performed on all twin infants who were admitted to the nursery and NICU at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006. Medical records of IVF twins (study group, n=92) and spontaneously conceived twins (control group, n=265) were analyzed and compared. Neonatal outcomes and complications, as well as obstetric outcomes, were analyzed and compared. Results : Mean gestational age and birth weight of the study group ($34.6{\pm}3.5$ weeks, $2,203.9{\pm}617.2g$) were considerably lower than those of the control group ($36.3{\pm}2.4$ weeks, $2,367.0{\pm}517.9g$). The frequency of prematurity less than 37 weeks (68.5% vs 51.3%) and extremely LBW (15.2% vs 6.4%) were also significantly higher in the study group. Other neonatal outcomes were all insignificant. The obstetric characteristics, maternal age ($32.6{\pm}3.3$ years vs $30.3{\pm}3.9$ years) and the frequency of cesarean delivery(95.7% vs 79.9%) were significantly higher in the study group. Other obstetric outcomes were insignificant except for the frequency of incompetent internal os of cervix (36.2% vs 3.6%) and cerclage operation (38.3% vs 4.3%). Conclusion : Based on the above results, clinical outcomes of twin infants will be further improved by careful attention and thorough antenatal care of the IVF twins.