• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 2011

There are two main purposes in this study. First, we compare the effects of wives' characteristics with the effects of the husbands' characteristics on the induced abortion. Second, we analyze whether the determinants of the induced abortion have changed according to parity and conception period. The main findings are follows. First, both wives' and husbands' socioeconomic characters have insignificant effects on the induced abortion at parity 0, in the 1997 and 2000 Korean Fertility Survey data. Second, during the periods of the lowest-low fertility, after 2000 in Korea, wives' employments have positive effects at parity 0 and 1, while husbands' educational levels have negative effects at parity 1 on the induced abortion. The implications are as follows. First, having children had been the universal social phenomenon before 2000 in Korea. however, after 2000, reproductions have become the women's choice, lather than the duty of married women. Women must weight the balance between the benefits and the costs of children so that women's fertility behaviors become a rational choice. Women's employment is the most important factor in these rational calculations. Second, both Western individualism and the traditional Korean familism have significant effects on the fertility behavior and the induced abortions in Korea. This rejects the diffusion theory, which tells that the traditional familism must be replaced by the Western individualism in order to decline the fertility rates in developing countries.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 1988

Though most of East European coutries seem to hold a pronatalist policy, they approve of family planning and provide contraceptive services. One of the most popular contraceptive method has traditionally been the coitus interruptus in these countries. One of the major reasons for adopting family planning is to decrease the incidence of induced abortion has been closely related to the popular use of coitus interruptus in these countries. Most of the East European countries liberalized induce abortion legally mainly to neutralize the wide practice of illegal abortion. However, the practice of induced abortion is under the strict control of the public health authorities in these countries. Migration and redistribution of population of population are mostly under the control of the state in these socialist countries. Policies on migration and redistribution are usually carried out to achieve the general goal of socio-economic development plan of the states. Both incentive measures and control measures are mobilized to affect the internal migration and redistribution of population. With respect to public health East European countries are characterized by the socialized medicine following the Soviet model. Public health measures and medical practice are controlled by the state and highly centralized in many countries except Yugoslavia. They place much emphasis on preventive medicine, primary health care, occupatinal and industrial medicine, and health education. Private sectors in medical practice do not exist in these countries of Eastern Europe.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-96
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• 1997

The main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of sex ratio imbalance at birth in Taegu which has experienced the extremely imbalanced sex ratio at birth since mid-1980s. This paper attempts to compare the determinants of sex ratio imbalance at birth, such as sex discrimination against women, son preference, prenatal sex identification followes by sex-selective induced abortions, among married women aged 25 to 44 in Taegu with those in Bay area, California in USA. The research is based on the survey data which were conducted in Taegu, Repulic of Korea and Bay area, California in USA. The findings of this analysis suggest that married women in Taegu are more likely to feel sex discrimination against women than married women in Bay area. Furthermore, the percentage of married women's effort for son bearing before pregnancy is much higher than that of married women in Bay area. We also have found that the percentage of sex-selective induced abortion in Taegu is six times higher than that of married women in Bay area. According to the logistic regression analysis, the determinants of sex-selective induced abortion among married women in Taegu are discrimination against women, son preference, prenatal sex identification. On the other hand, age is the only variable which has an important impact on sex-selective induced abortion among married women in Bay area. From the findings of this study, we can conclude that son preference based on Cofucianism is the most important impact on sex ratio imbalance at birth in Taegu where son preference is much stronger than other regions in Korea. The phenomenon of extremely imbalanced sex ratio at birth in Taegu is the result of combination of these factors, such as strong son preference, seeking to have at least one son within small family size, and prenatal sex identification followed by sex-selective induced abortion.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.23-34
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• 1977

A study was carried out for the evaluation on family situation of 900 homemakers those who had received tubal sterilization operation (laparoscopic and minilaparotomy) at family planning clinic, Seoul Red Cross Hospital from October 1974 to September 1977. The results obtained are as follows: 1) In age distribution, predominant age group consisted of those $31{\sim}35$ years frequency of 43.2% and average age was 33.3 years. 2) Educational level showed that homemakers who finished primary school accounted for 37.3% of the total and those having middle school education comprised 28.7%, and 24.3% of them were high school graduates, 8.3% of them were college graduates. On the other hand, husband's education level showed that, 37.6% of them were high school graduates, 29.7% were college graduates and 19.9% were middle school graduates, therefor, educational level of husbands was one step higher than wives. 3) In the gravidity at the tubal sterilization, the highest incidence(18.4%) among 853cases was the group of gravida 5, and 16.2% gravida 4, and the gravidity ranged $1{\sim}23$. Average gravidity of clients was 6.0. 4) Among the total number of 900 clients, 778cases (91.3%) had no experience of spontanous abortion, history of 1 abortion in 5.9%, 2 abortions in 1.8%, and it showed the decresed incidence of spontanous abortion recently. Average was 0.15. As regarding induced abortion, in spite of only 142 homemakers (16.7%) had no history of induced abortion, 20.5% had experienced 1 induced abortion before sterilization, 17.7% had 2 induced abortions, 14.6% had 3 abortions, 10.3% had 4 abortions, and 0.2% (2cases) had over 20 abortions. Average was 2.7. 5) In regarding to the number of living children, the greatest number (45.0%) of clients had 3 children, and 26.5% 2 children, 19.7% 4 children. Average number of their living children was 3.03. 6) Sex ratio of living children, among 18 clients those had 1 child, 17 homemakers had 1 boy and no girl, 1 homemaker had no boy and 1 girl only. Sex ratio showed that woman who had 2 boys and no girl accounted for 46.3%, however, those having no boy and 2 girls ocmprised only 1. 8% among 229 clients who had 2 children. Among 389 clients who had 3 children, in spite of woman who had 3 boys and no girl comprised 16.5%, but no boy and 3 girls only 1.5%. Among 170 clients who had 4 children, homemakers with 4 boys and no girl accounted for 4.1%, however, no boy and 4 girls 1.8% of the total. Among 52 clients, who had 5 children, woman with 5 boys and no girl comprised 3.9%, no boy and 5 girls 0%. Among 7 cases who had 6 children, there were 3 cases who had 3 boys and 3 girls, but only 1 cases had 1 boy and 5 girls and so on. These results showed a strong trend of male preference in Korea and this could be one of the inhibit factors for family planning.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.47-76
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• 1996

This study was carried out to provide the basic information for the implementation of population quality policies by analyzing fetal life. The outcomes and process of all the pregnancies of women with spouses living in Gapyung-gun, Kyunggi province from November 3, 1993 through December 31, 1995 were analyzed. The results of the study are as follows: According to the fetal life table, the estimated probability of pregnancy outcome showed 53.5% of live birth, 14.5% of fetal death, 32.0% of induced abortion, which resulted in 46.5% of pregnancy wastage throughout gestation period. The curve of the estimated probability of pregnancy outcome by gestation weeks showed L shape in case of total pregnancy rate, induced abortion rate and fetal death rate. The estimated probability of fetal death was 21.9% in case that the induced abortion was excluded, which was 7.4% higher than the case that induced abortion was included. The expected duration of pregnancy was 22.9 weeks until the fourth week of gestation and then started to become the highest, 26.6 weeks at the tenth week. At the 11th week, it declined to decrease to 26.4 weeks. This is attributed to the fact that the pregnancy wastage including fetal death and induced abortion occurred in the early period of pregnancy. The establishment of appropriate policies to cope with this situation are needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.877-886
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• 1999

To assess the effect of an antenatal nutritional status on pregnancy outcome, especially neonatal birty weight, one-day 24hr-recall and two-day recording methods for dietary survey and interview for general and obstetric characteristics of each subject were completed and pregnancy outcome was recorded by phone after delivery. 147 pregnant women attending routinely public health centers in Ulsan were divided into 1st trimester(n=36), 2nd trimester(n=102), 3rd trimester(n=71) by LMP(Last Menstrual Period) because some subjects attended repeatedly in different trimester. The subjects were aged 27.9$\pm$2.9 as mean and the level of education was senior high school and more. 20.4% of subjects experienced spontaneous abortion and 30.0% experienced induced abortion in previous pregnancy. Mean intakes of all nutrients except ascorbic acid were significantly different but dietary composition of energy intakes was not different between trimester. Mineral of calcium, iron and zinc did not meet the RDA for pregnancy outcome was about 20%, which consists of spontaneous abortion (3.4%), caesarian section(15.6%), premature delivery(0.7%) and still births(0.7%). The mean birth weight of neonates is 3.31kg the rate of neonatal birth weight below 10th percentile was 8.4% and the rate of low birth weight(<2.5kg) was 3.1%. By analysis of nutrient factors that influence on the neonatal birth weight (NBW), iron intake correlated negatively and zinc intake correlated positively with NBW in 1st trimester but fat and iron intakes correlated with NBW positively in 3rd trimester. Prepregnancy weight, gestational age at delivery and No. of induced abortion had a positive effects on NBW and No. of spontaneous abortion and te severity of morning sickness had a negative effects on NBW.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.59-80
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• 1981

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-122
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• 1996

This is a study of the determinants of sexual, contraceptive, and abortion behavior among unmarried female adolescents and young adults, which has emerged as a growing and serious health problem in Korea. As part of a larger project, data were gathered in three export zones: Kuro (Seoul), Kumi (Kyngbuk) Masan Changwon (Kyongnam) ; and the study samples are regrouped into three categories: 1) factory workers, i.e. , the reference group serving as program participants, 2) entertainment workers, and 3) ob-gyn patients. This study indicates that entertainment workers are at highest risk of experiencing premarital sex, STDs, contraceptive failure, unwanted pregnancies, and induced abortion. Of them, 20 percent had STDs as a result of first sexual experience: and about seven tenths had two or more pregnancies due to the adoption of low-efficacy methods. The proportion of those who had ever been pregnant was 60 percent for the group as a whole: 36 percent for the program participants: 64 percent for the entertainment workers ; and 91 percent four the ob-gyn patients. These proportions are exactly the same for abortion in each group, which means that all pregnancies ended in induced abortion. Of the respondents who said that they were sexually active at the time of survey, abortions were very high: 1.6 for the program participants, 2.3 for the entertainment workers, and 1.9 for the ob-gyn patients. About 80 percent of the women had abortions during the first trimester, and two thirds of the first abortions took place between the ages of 20 and 23. About one fourth experienced post-abortion complication, which was highest among the program participants (39 percent). Sixty percent of those with complications visited a hospital or took medicine to treat the problem. Even after the experience of induced abortion, the use of contraception was very low, except among the entertainment workers, whose level of use reached 53 percent. The most obvious recommendation, arising from this research, is that 'good-quality' counselling and family planning services be established under the auspices of both national and local government, particularly targeted for the entertainment workers as well as the factory workers in various textile, electronic, manufacturing, and other industrial sectors. We believe that entertainment sectors should be restructured radically so that young women who work for amusement bars and other entertainment sectors obtain protection from the risk of having unwanted pregnancies, STDs, and induced abortion.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.294-307
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to find out how married women who had had an abortions experience a change through Family Constellation. The consequent changes will occur in the perception of an abortion experience and in the relation between married women themselves and their family. The participants in the study were 9 married women aged 40~60 who have experienced an abortion, and data collection was carried out over 3 periods which were before, right after and one month after the Family Constellation experience through individual in-depth interviews. The chief methodology of this study is based on the one by Colaizzi's phenomenological research, and by using the methodology to analyze the data 15 theme collections and 3 categories were deducted. According to the result of the analysis, the experience of abortion was having negative influence on the whole spectrum of the life of married women who experienced an abortion even though they did not consciously recall the relevant experiences. In the married women's Family Constellation, the agent visualizes the restrained relation which is hidden in unconsciousness and thereby offers an opportunity for married women to untie "knot". Moreover through this opportunity, married women are able to have new perception of their abortion experience and the relation between their family. Furthermore, not only will they be able to recover the relationship with their family, but also emotional stability.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.33-53
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• 1988

This study aimed at developing a desirable family planning policy and strategy by examining the current status of family planning practice in rural Korea and by indentifying the crucial factors which affect fertility control behavior. For this purpose, an analytical study was conducted, using the survey data collected in July 1985, on an interview basis, on 1, 440 married women living in the Soyi, Wonnam and Maingdong townships of Eumseong County(in North Chungcheong Province). This study population has the typical characteristics of rural areas, and the results of the analysis can be summarized as follows: 1. In regard to the demographic characteristics of the study population : their average age at marriage was 23.7, they had an average of 2.6 children( 1.3 boys, 1.3 girls) :10% experienced the death of their child (ren) :14% had spontaneous abortion(s) :4% weathered stillbirth(s) :35% went through induced abortion (s) : and 5.5% were currently pregnant. The average of their ideal numbers of children was 2.2, while 44% felt that they must have a son. 2. Looking at the contact rate with medical & health institutions, over the past 1 year, the visit rate to health subcenters was 43.7%, while 26.9% visited the (county) health center :59.6% had been to private clinics : and 41.5% went to the Soonchunhyang - Eumsung hospital : thus showing a relatively high rate of accessibility. 3. The utilization rate of family planning services was 76.5%, with tubectomy being the most prominent method at 52.3%, while the informants were health workers in 54.2% of the acceptors. Of the 8.4% who discontinued the use of contraceptive methods, only 26% did so due to want for pregnancy, natural infertility (meno - pause), or other reasons, while the remaining 74% stopped usage on account of side effects, failure in the methods themselves, and inconvenience of use, thus pointing to a situation where the proper choice of family planning methods have not yet been made. It can be noted that there is a strong motivation for early birth stopping as 35.3% practice family planning even with only one child, of which 38.3% have had sterilization operations. According to results of a multiple regression analysis, among the variables affecting contraception usage the most significant variable was the number of sons. 4. 34.8% experienced induced abortions. It was shown as a result of multiple regression analysis that the number of children and attitudes toward induced abortions extensively affected their frequency of abortions conducted. 5. In the regard to the relation between family planning and induced abortions, 33.7% of the women used both, while 52.0% of them used only the former(family planning), with only 1.4 % utilizing solely the latter(abortion), and 12.9% totally abstaining from fertility regulation : again, the discriminant analysis indicated that the choice of family planning and/or induced abortion was determined by the number of children and attitudes toward induced abortion. In view of the above mentioned results, the following are some comments and suggestions concerning problems related to the current family planning policies, in Korea : 1. It is difficult to expect a further quantitative expansion in family planning program operations, as there has been an excessive supply of target-oriented sterilization operations on women. From a maternal and child health care point of view, it will be desirable to have a diversification of service points in the future where family planning methods may be properly chosen, so that choices of methods which suit the mothers' characteristics and tastes may be made by the individuals themselves by strengthening their quality of family planning information services. 2. Along with the strengthening of the qualitative improvement of family planning services policies must be implemented to effectively promote the moral (ethical) deterrents to induced abortions and to preference for sons. From a maternal care standpoint, the social permissive norm toward induced abortion must be modified, and the bias towards son must be analyzed as the women with more daughters have a lower rate of family planning acceptance. Such changes in attitudes, however, can not be hoped to be accomplished with ad hoc policies, but will only be possible when an enhancement of the women's status(within the society) is brought about in a long - term perspective.