• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.18-28
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• 2017

Objectives: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health concern, especially in developing countries, and is frequently related to child morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify key determinants that influence the prevalence of LBW in selected developing countries. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using 10 recent Demography and Health Surveys from developing countries based on the availability of the required information for the years 2010 to 2013. Associations of demographic, socioeconomic, community-based, and individual factors of the mother with LBW in infants were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of LBW in the study countries was 15.9% (range, 9.0 to 35.1%). The following factors were shown to have a significant association with the risk of having an LBW infant in developing countries: maternal age of 35 to 49 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 3.1; p<0.01), inadequate antenatal care (ANC) (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; p<0.01), illiteracy (aOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.7; p<0.001), delayed conception (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.5; p<0.001), low body mass index (aOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1; p<0.001) and being in the poorest socioeconomic stratum (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that delayed conception, advanced maternal age, and inadequate ANC visits had independent effects on the prevalence of LBW. Strategies should be implemented based on these findings with the goal of developing policy options for improving the overall maternal health status in developing countries.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권10호
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• pp.386-394
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• 2019

Background: Preterm infants have difficulty maintaining body temperature after birth. However, clinical guidelines advocate that neonatal body temperature should be maintained at 36.5℃-37.5℃. Purpose: We aimed to investigate the incidence of admission hypothermia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to determine the association of admission temperature with in-hospital mortality and morbidities. Methods: A cohort study using prospectively collected data involving 70 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that participate in the Korean Neonatal Network. From registered infants born between January 2013 and December 2015, 5,343 VLBW infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation were reviewed. Results: The mean admission temperature was 36.1℃±0.6℃, with a range of 31.9℃ to 38.4℃. Approximately 74.1% of infants had an admission hypothermia of <36.5℃. Lower birth weight, intubation in the delivery room and Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes were significantly related to admission hypothermia. The mortality was the lowest at 36.5℃-37.5℃ and adjusted odd ratios for all deaths increased to 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.83), 1.44 (95% CI, 1.05-1.97) and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.22-2.82) for infants with admission temperatures of 36.0℃-36.4℃, 35.0℃-35.9℃, and <35.0℃, respectively. Admission hypothermia was also associated with high likelihoods of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, proven sepsis, pulmonary hemorrhage, air-leak, seizure, grade 3 or higher intraventricular hemorrhage and advanced retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser therapy. Conclusion: A large portion of preterm infants in Korea had hypothermia at NICU admission, which was associated with high mortality and several important morbidities. More aggressive interventions aimed at reducing hypothermia are required in this high-risk population.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.483-490
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• 2004

Elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including birth defects, low birth weight, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, and other maternal or fetal complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the maternal plasma homocysteine level during pregnancy and to investigate the relationship between the plasma homocysteine concentrations and pregnancy outcomes. Venous blood samples were drawn from 82 pregnant women who were grouped with gestational age, 1st trimester (n = 26), 2nd trimester (n = 27) and 3rd trimester (n = 29). The concentration of plasma homocysteine was analyzed by HPLC, and pregnancy outcomes including gestational length, maternal weight gain, infant birth weight, and Apgar score were collected with the medical records of the pregnant women. The levels of plasma homocysteine of the pregnant women at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester were 5.7 $$\pm$ 3.7\mu㏖/L,\;5.6 \pm4.1\mu㏖/L\; and\; 7.0\pm 4.5\mu㏖/L$, respectively, which had not showed any significant difference. The result of this study showed that in case of the pregnant women at the 1st trimester, the maternal plasma homocysteine level of the pregnant women whose gestational length was less than 38 weeks was significantly high (p < 0.01) compared to that of the pregnants whose gestational length was more than 38 weeks. And also, the level of homocysteine of the pregnant women at the 2nd trimester was significantly low when the maternal weight gain was high (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that maternal plasma homocysteine level at early stage of gestation will be a predicter of gestational length and maternal weight gain.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.80-95
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of low birth-weight infants and their's mothers, and to identify the factors which influenced to delivery of L.B.W infants. The data derived from K. General Hospital and J. obs & gyn clinic in pusan from January, 1998 to August, 1998, which were from mothers of having B. W infants. The factors used for this study were characteristics of general, obstetrical, environmental aspects and physical and psychological life experiences during pregnancy. Analysis of data obtained were computerized statistically by using SPSS 7.5 WIN program. the data were analysed as number, frequency, percentage, t-test and ANOVA. The major results obtained of this study were as follows : 1) Gender that L.B.W infants were male in 47.2% and female in 52.8%, body weight of 2001~2500gm was above 8 in 68.5%, and below 5 in 1.8%. The L.B.W infants with complications were 7, which were 6.5%. The kinds of malformations were the Cleft palate & lip, Hyper-kalemia, Hypoglycemia, Meningocele, CHD, Down syndrome and each of them marked 0.9%. 2) In the general characteristics of pregnant women, the age group of 25~29 years was the most common as 46.3%. Over 35 years of age, elderly gravidas were in 7.5%. the height of 156~160cm was the most common as 52.8%. pregnant women of below 150cm height was in 3.7%. body weight of 51~55kg was the most common as 38%. pregnant women of below 45kg were in 19.4%. The women with smoking and drinking episodes during pregnancy were 1.9% and 25%. In the status of marriage, married women were in 95.4%, unmarried ones were in 1.9%, and unmarried couples were in 2.8%. Iin he obstetrical characteristics of pregnant women, pregnant women with gestational age under 37wks were in 45.4%, and the ones over 38wks were 54.6%. At the methods of delivery, normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries were in 51.9%, which were the most common, cesarian section deliveries were in 47.2%, and breech deliveries were in 0.9%. In the environmental characteristics of pregnant women, 40.8% of pregnant women lived in house or apartments with stairs, 23.1% of them lived in the high altitude. the pregnant women who ran a household without a helper were in 65.7%. In the pregnant women who had underwent life experiences of physical and psychological stress during pregnancy. life experiences of physical stresses were described as persistent fatigue due to lifestyle, traumatic experience, illness, move away with an effort, physical impact caused by discord. life experiments of psychological stresses were describeded as trouble with their husbands, discord with one's husband family, family problems, and conflicts due to environmental factors, etc. The number of the pregnant women who had complications during pregnancy was 32, which was 29.6% totally. Among them, pre-eclampsia was in 12.1% and the premature rupture of membrane in 7.4%. 3) In the analysis of the general, obstetrical, and circumstantial characteristics and L.B.W infants. There were statistical difference significantly between the gestational age of pregnant women(F=12.035, P=.000), and the status of marriage(F=3.207, P=.044), and maternal complication(t=2.344, P=.021) etc.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.10-16
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• 2017

Purpose: Although procalcitonin (PCT) level is useful for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, PCT reliability is inconsistent because of the varied conditions encountered in neonatal intensive care units. This study aimed to investigate PCT levels and factors influencing increased PCT levelin newborns without bacterial infection during the first week of life. Methods: In newborns hospitalized between March 2013 and October 2015, PCT levels were measured on the first, third, and seventh days after birth. Newborns with proven bacterial (blood culture positive for bacteria) or suspicious infection (presence of C-reactive protein expression or leukocytosis/leukopenia) were excluded. Various neonatal conditions were analyzed to identify the factors influencing increased PCT level. Results: Among 292 newborns with a gestational age of $35.2{\pm}3.0$ weeks and a birth weight of $2,428{\pm}643g$, preterm newborns (n=212) had higher PCT levels than term newborns (n=80). Of the newborns, 7.9% had increased PCT level (23 of 292) on the firstday; 28.3% (81 of 286), on the third day; and 3.3% (7 of 121), on the seventh day after birth. The increased PCT level was significantly associated with prenatal disuse of antibiotics (P=0.004) and surfactant administration (P<0.001) on the first day after birth, postnatal use of antibiotics (P=0.001) and ventilator application (P=0.001) on the third day after birth, and very low birth weight (P=0.042) on the seventh day after birth. Conclusion: In newborns without bacterial infection, increased PCT level was significantly associated with lower gestational age and respiratory difficulty during the first week of life. Further studies are needed for clinical applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권9호
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2009

거대세포바이러스(CMV)는 신생아에서 가장 흔한 선천성 감염의 원인 중 하나이며, 모든 정상 출산아 중 약 0.3-2.4%에서 감염되어 있다. 혈청에서 거대세포바이러스 양성인 모체 중 40-96%에서 모유를 통한 바이러스의 배출이 증명되었으며, 거대세포바이러스에 감염된 모유를 통한 감염은 전체 영아 거대세포바이러스 감염의 약 1/3을 차지한다. 본 증례에서는 극소 저체중 출생아에서 모유를 통하여 발생한 거대세포바이러스 감염을 기술하였다. 환아는 생후 7일 경부터 모유 수유를 하였으며, 심한 혈소판감소증, 빈혈, 그리고 패혈증과 유사한 임상 양상에 대하여 반복되는 혈소판 수혈, 적혈구 수혈, 면역 글로불린 요법을 시행받았다. 거대세포바이러스 감염은 생후 2개월 경 혈청 CMV IgM 양성 및 소변 CMV 배양 검사 양성 소견을 통하여 진단하였다. 출생 당시 혈청 CMV IgM 및 소변 CMV 배양 검사가 음성이었으므로 선천성 감염은 배제할 수 있었다. 환아의 혈청과 모유의 핵산 배열 순서 분석을 통하여 동일한 바이러스에 의한 감염임을 증명하였다. 저자들은 국내에서 최초로 nucleotide sequencing 방법을 이용, 모유 수유를 통한 거대세포바이러스 감염이 발생한 극소 저체중 출생아의 예를 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.480-483
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• 2008

질환에 따라서 많은 논란이 있으나, 최근 선천성 심기형의 수술적 교정시 조기의 일단계 완전 교정술을 시행하는 쪽이 장점이 부각되고 있다. 저체중(low birth weight) 미숙아에서 체외순환을 통한 개심술은 여러 가지 이유로 수술이 쉽지 않아 환자의 체중 및 장기 기능이 발달할 때까지 단계적으로 수술을 시행하는 경우가 대부분이다. 본 증례에서는 심실 중격 결손을 동반한 대동맥축착증을 가진 태내주수 29주, 출생체중 1,280 g, 수술 당시 체중 1,250 g의 미숙아의 성공적인 일단계 완전 교정술을 보고하고자 한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.68-74
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• 2013

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of new management policies on the incidence of invasive Candida infections Methods: This observational study involved a retrospective analysis of the patients' medical records. In total, 99 very low birth weight infants, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ajou University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2011, were enrolled for the study. Period I, defined as the period before the revision of management policies, comprised 57 infants; whereas, period II, defined as the period after the implementation of new management policies, comprised 42 infants. The new management policies entailed a reduction in antibiotic and histamine type 2 receptor blocker (H2 blocker) use, duration of central venous catheterization, and duration of endotracheal intubation. Results: There was a significant overall decrease in the use of antibiotics including 3rd generation cephalosporin and H2 blockers (P<0.05), and a significantly lower incidence of invasive Candida infections in period II as compared to period I (0/42 vs. 6/57, respectively; P=0.037). Comparison between infants with invasive Candida infections (n=6) and those without (n=93) showed that gestational age (odds ratio [OR], 0.909; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.829 to 0.996; P=0.042) and the duration of 3rd generation cephalosporin use (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 1.009 to 1.183; P=0.029) were statistically significant risk factors. Conclusion: The new management policies effectively decreased overall use of antibiotics, especially 3rd generation cephalosporin, and H2 blockers, which led to a significantly lower incidence of invasive Candida infections.

• 한국간호교육학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.257-266
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the themes involved in a nursing experience of caring for extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Interviews with 6 nurses in various positions and observations in a level III NICU were conducted. The transcribed interview contents and observational notes were reviewed to analyze the data and conceptualize major themes. Results: Three major themes were identified: the fears expressed by the nurses regarding taking care of ELBWIs, reasons for persistent fears, and overcoming fears and gaining intuition. Nurses were afraid of the following factors: the physical fragility of the infants; the possibility of developing disabilities in the future; and the rapid changes in infants' physical condition. These fears were reduced when nurses had developed intuition and confidence in taking care of ELBWIs through various situational experiences. Conclusion: NICU nurses may benefit from obtaining more opportunities to participate in various learning experiences with simulated nursing situations in a variety of patient groups. Applying knowledge and skills into various nursing situations in an integrative way may contribute to enhancing nurses' confidence in nursing practice.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.297-307
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• 2021

Purpose: This descriptive study compared the perceived parental stress levels between parents with very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: In total, 83 parents of VLBWIs and 78 NICU nurses were enrolled. Data were collected with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance in SAS version 9.4. Results: The average PSS score was 3.31 among parents and 3.45 among nurses. The stress score was significantly higher among nurses with children (t=2.46, p=.016) and senior nurses (t=2.12, p=.037). There was a significant difference in the stress score according to parents' education (t=3.29, p=.002) and occupation (F=3.14, p=.049) in the sights and sounds subscale. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores than fathers in the parental role alterations subscale (t=2.32, p=.023). Parental stress scores were higher than those perceived by nurses in the infant's appearance and behaviors subscale for breathing patterns (t=2.95, p=.004), followed by jerky/ restless behavior (t=2.70, p=.008). Conclusion: Nurses should provide explanations to parents of VLBWIs in order to reduce parental stress about the appearances and behavior of VLBWIs. This is more important than aspect of the NICU environment and education about parental roles.