• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.371-380
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of socio-demographic factors on the decreasing trend in the sex ratio at birth from 1997 to 2017 in Korea. Methods: Data from 10 349 602 live births registered with Statistics Korea from 1997 to 2017 were analyzed. The secondary sex ratio (SSR), defined as the ratio of male to female live births, during the study period (1997-1999 [phase I], 2000-2002 [phase II], 2003-2005 [phase III], 2006-2008 [phase IV], 2009-2011 [phase V], 2012-2014 [phase VI], and 2015-2017 [phase VII]) was calculated according to selected socio-demographic factors, such as parental age, education, occupation, and birth order. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for a male birth after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The SSR gradually decreased from 1.10 (in 1998-2000 and 2002) to 1.05 (in 2013-2016). While a decreasing trend in the SSR was not noted among first births, male-biased sex ratios were prominent among third and higher-order births, for which the highest SSR was 1.46 in 1998. Higher birth order was significantly associated with an excess of male births in phases I-VI (≥third vs. first, OR range, 1.03 to 1.35). Advanced maternal age was significantly associated with an excess of female births in phases II, III, and V (≥40 vs. 20-24 years, OR range, 0.92 to 0.95). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that advanced maternal age and reduction of the artificially-biased SSR among third and higher-order births may partially explain the decreasing trend in the SSR from 1997 to 2017 in Korea.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.255-266
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This study compared the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight between native-born and foreign-born women. Methods: By Using the birth registration data, every woman who gave birth between 2010 and 2016 in Korea was included in the analysis. Duration from marriage to pregnancy was measured by month and multiple socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were controlled. Preterm birth (<37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2.5 kg) were used for outcome variables. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis with Stata. Results: The risks of preterm birth and low birth weight for native-born and foreign-born women differed according to the duration of marriage or birth order. For the first infant, foreign-born women were more likely to have pereterm birth or low birth weight than the native-born in the early stage of marriage but nativeborn women had higher risks than the foreign-born in the middle and later stage of marriage. For the second infant, foreign-born women were less likely to have pereterm birth or low birth weight than the native-born regardless of the duration of marriage. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrates that the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight for foreign-born women is concentrated on the early stage of marriage. Institutional and cultural supports should be given to foreign-born women to help their early settlement in the Korean society.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.73-97
• /
• 2006

Knowing about each student's reading motivation is important to school librarians in producing life-long readers in their students This research asks the questions. are there any significant differences of reading motivation between grade level gender and birth order? and what kinds of reading motivation can encourage students to read books? The questionnaire method composed of 25 items was used for 278 students. The sample consisted of 142 students in 2nd, 136 in 5th grade, 140 boys and 138 girls. and 119 first born and 159 other birth order students. Finding shows that significant differences were observed for the reading motivation in 2nd and 5th grade, no significant differences between boys and girls. and no significant differences between birth order students were observed. It concludes with recommendations of reading motivation to each student or group.

• Perinatology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2018

Objective: To compare neonatal respiratory morbidity of twins according to birth order related to gestational age and mode of delivery. Methods: We performed the retrospective research of the medical records of 3,224 neonates (1,612 twin pairs) born in a single center from January 2011 to December 2015. Subjects were classified into four gestational age groups: very (<32 weeks), moderate (32-33 weeks), late (34-36 weeks) preterm, and term (${\geq}37weeks$) groups. We investigated clinical characteristics and respiratory morbidity according to birth order related to gestational age group and mode of delivery. Results: We found increased risk of respiratory morbidity in second-born twin than first-born twin (P=0.039). Second-born twin was associated with increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in late preterm group (odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-5.95), and transient tachypnea of newborn in term group (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.03-1.81). In vaginal delivery mode, there was no difference of respiratory morbidity between first and second-born twin in each group, but in cases of Cesarean delivery, second-born twin was related with a greater risk of RDS in late preterm group (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.07-5.09). Birth order and Cesarean section independently increased the risk of RDS (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.54; aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.25-3.66, respectively). Conclusion: Second-born twin and Cesarean delivery are associated with increased risk of RDS, especially in late preterm twins.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.155-172
• /
• 2015

This study aimed to identify the effects of mothers' variables and present children's variables on subsequent childbirth plan and to explore predictors of subsequent childbirth plan for non-employed and employed mothers. The subjects were 1,635 mothers participating in the Panel Study on Korean Children from 2008 to 2010 and having no subsequent children until 2010 after giving birth to children in 2008. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t test, ${\chi}^2$ test, and decision tree analysis. The main results of this study were as follows. Firstly, mothers' child-rearing stresses, child value, marital satisfaction, social support, present children's birth order and sex influenced mothers' subsequent childbirth plans, whereas mothers' average family income per month did not. Secondly, in the case of non-employed mothers, their present children's birth order and sex, and mothers' child value predicted their subsequent childbirth plan. Specifically, mothers whose present children's birth order and sex was first and female had the highest possibilities of subsequent childbirth plan, followed by mothers whose present children's birth order and sex was first and male, and child value was higher. Thirdly, in the case of employed mothers, their present children's birth order and mothers' marital satisfaction predicted their subsequent childbirth plan. Specifically, mothers whose present children' birth order was first and marital satisfaction was higher had the highest possibilities of subsequent childbirth plan. Finally, the study suggested the role of Home Economics Education in raising the rate of subsequent childbirth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.764-771
• /
• 2012

Direct and maternal genetic heritabilities and their correlations with body weight at 5 stages in the life span of purebred Berkshire pigs, from birth to harvest, were estimated to scrutinize body weight development with the records for 5,088 purebred Berkshire pigs in a Korean farm, using the REML based on an animal model. Body weights were measured at birth (Birth), at weaning (Weaning: mean 22.9 d), at the beginning of a performance test (On: mean 72.7 d), at the end of a performance test (Off: mean 152.4 d), and at harvest (Finish: mean 174.3 d). Ordinary polynomials and Legendre with order 1, 2, and 3 were adopted to adjust body weight with age in the multivariate animal models. Legendre with order 3 fitted best concerning prediction error deviation (PED) and yielded the lowest AIC for multivariate analysis of longitudinal body weights. Direct genetic correlations between body weight at Birth and body weight at Weaning, On, Off, and Finish were 0.48, 0.36, 0.10, and 0.10, respectively. The estimated maternal genetic correlations of body weight at Finish with body weight at Birth, Weaning, On, and Off were 0.39, 0.49, 0.65, and 0.90, respectively. Direct genetic heritabilities progressively increased from birth to harvest and were 0.09, 0.11, 0.20, 0.31, and 0.43 for body weight at Birth, Weaning, On, Off, and Finish, respectively. Maternal genetic heritabilities generally decreased and were 0.26, 0.34, 0.15, 0.10, and 0.10 for body weight at Birth, Weaning, On, Off, and Finish, respectively. As pigs age, maternal genetic effects on growth are reduced and pigs begin to rely more on the expression of their own genes. Although maternal genetic effects on body weight may not be large, they are sustained through life.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.431-438
• /
• 2014

The study was carried out in order to verify the effects of piglets' weight at birth on their surface temperature change (ST) after birth, and its relationship with ingestion time of colostrum. Piglets from four different sows were weighed at birth and divided into a totally randomized design with three treatments according to birth weight (PBW): T1 - less than 1.00 kg, T2 - 1.00 to 1.39 kg, and T3 - higher than or equal to 1.40 kg. The time spent for the first colostrum ingestion was recorded (TFS). Images of piglets' surface by thermal imaging camera were recorded at birth (STB) and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after birth. The air temperature and relative humidity were recorded every 30 min and the indexes of temperature and humidity (THI) were calculated. A ST drop after 15 min from birth was observed, increasing again after sixty minutes. Positive correlations were found between the PBW and the ST at 30 and 45 min after birth. The PBW was negatively correlated with the TFS. The THI showed high negative correlations (-0.824 and -0.815) with STB and after 15 min from birth. The piglet's surface temperature at birth was positively correlated with temperature thereof to 15 min, influencing therefore the temperatures in the interval of 45 to 120 min. The birth weight contributes significantly to postnatal hypothermia and consequently to the time it takes for piglets ingest colostrum, requiring special attention to those of low birth weight.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.36-47
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was to explore subjectivity on childbearing in high school students. Methods: A Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each type was used. Forty-three high school students classified 40 selected Q-statements into 9 points standard. The obtained data were analyzed by using the pc-QUANL program. Results: High school students' subjectivity on childbearing were analyzed into two types: Type 1 turned out to be 'FOLS (family oriented life style)' and Type 2 'CINK (couple important no kid)'. Conclusion: In order to resolve such problems as low birth rate and the advanced age of the population, effective youth and adult programs, policy and institution are required. The current demographic, economic and other factors such as personal values and policies may lower birth rate. In particular, youths' need for children and birth rate tend to be lower. There are positive and negative patterns in high school students' subjectivity on childbearing. Thus, national and social efforts are needed to change negative factors into positive ones. In order to maintain positive subjectivity on childbearing in high school students, it is necessary to apply family-centered educational programs and to implement birth-friendly and realistic programs for promoting child birth.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.191-201
• /
• 2009

The Korean Government has recently prepared the comprehensive five-year basic plan (2006-2010) to deal with low fertility and population ageing. The basic plan aims at recovering the fertility rate to the appropriate level and improving the social and economic systems in preparation for the aged society. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of fertility policies on childbirth by birth order. The data came from 1,729 adults who gave birth to babies in 2007 and 991 adults as the control group. The serial logistic regression analyses revealed that establishing the health and nutrition system for maternity and children, and expanding of tax and social insurance benefit were effective policy measures to increase childbirths of first children, while the policy measures establishing the health and nutrition system for maternity and children, supporting for daycare and pre-school education, and work-life balance were effective to childbirths of second or third children in 2007. However, the policies of supporting for costs of test-tube baby and expanding childcare infra didn't have any significant influences on childbirths in 2007. The implications of study results were discussed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 1987

Neonatal and obstetrical problems related to the low birth weight infants were evaluated by a retrospective review of the medical records of the 186 low birth weight infants born at Yeungnam-University Hospital during 3 years and 8 months from May 1, 1983 to February 28, 1987. The results were as follows ; 1. The incidence of the low birth weight infants was 4.98% among 3803 live births. 2. Male to female ratio was 1.02:1. 3. The incidence of the low birth weight infants was lowest in mothers of 25 to 29 years, increased in mothers of 19 years of less and 30 to 39 years significantly. 4. There was no difference in the incidence of low birth weight infants between primiparous and multiparous mothers. 5. Common obstetrical complications associated with low weight infants were multiple pregnancy, toxemia and premature rupture of membrane in order of frequency. 6. Common neonatal problems in low birth weight infants were jaundice, idiopathic respiratory, distress syndrome, asphyxia and metabolic dfrangement such as hypocalcemia and hypoglycemia in order of frequency.