• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.260-273
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of married Korean women regarding marriage and childbirth, and their awareness of childbirth-related issues such as low birth rates, sex preferences and sex imbalances in Korea. Methods: A total of 453 married women aged 20 or older were randomly selected from four urban districts and five rural districts out of 25 districts in Gyeongju, a consolidated city located in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. The survey was conducted from December 2005 to February 2006. A total of 392 out of 453 questionnaires(86.5% response rate) were collected, and 44 incomplete questionnaires were excluded, leaving 348 completed questionnaires to be used for data analysis. Age was divided into three groups as below 49, 50-69, 70 or older. Results: Women's perceptions of marriage were associated with age(p<0.01). Perceptions about childbirth were also significantly related to age(p<0.01), type of residential area (p<0.01) and education level(p<0.05). Sex preferences were significantly related to age(p<0.05) and occupation(p<0.01). Of the respondents aged 49 or younger, 34.8% indicated that the ideal number of children is two, while 25.5% of respondents aged 50 to 69 and 15.3% of respondents aged 70 and 33.7% of respondents aged 70 or older considered four children to be the ideal number. Perceptions of sex imbalance were significantly related to socioeconomic status(p<0.01) and occupation(p<0.01). The largest number of respondents cited "economic burden" as the main reason for low birth rates. Multiple logistic regressions were performed for all three age groups using male sex preference as the dependent variable under the assumption that respondents can have only a single child. Socioeconomic status (p<0.01) and residential area (p<0.05) were significant variables for those aged 49 or below. Education level(p<0.05) and residential area (p<0.01) were statistically significant variables on preferring son in case of having only one child for respondents aged 50 to 69. We did not detect any significant independent variables in respondents who were 70 or older. Conclusions: Our results highlight the necessity of developing policies and public education programs to explain the consequences of low birth rates and sex imbalances in Korea. As increasing numbers of women work outside the home, it is important for the government and employers to provide social and working environments where women do not consider marriage and childbirth to be obstacles to social and business activities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.496-498
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• 2021

In Korea, based on the high fertility rate before 1980, the total population has been steadily increasing, and since the mid-1980s, the fertility rate has fallen sharply and has fallen below the level of population replacement. The cause of low birth rate in the region is not voluntary rejection, but rather, it is necessary to find out the cause by identifying the structural causes of the local community from various angles. We collected local Internet news and local representative cafe data, where many mothers participate, based on the budget area with a very low fertility rate among various areas. Factors of childbirth inhibition were analyzed by using the frequency of concurrent words that became issues related to population decline, low birthrate, and child-rearing welfare.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2012

The total fertility rate of our nation has been in the world's lowest level with constant falling since it reached an all-time low in 1983. The increase in economic participation of women, difficulties to balance work and family life, and traditional gender role and family norms in our society have been blamed for causing low birth rates. In addition, the current economic recession and increased polarization of wealth make it more difficult for working families to balance work and family life, resulting in lowering fertility rates. The Korean government has recently prepared the second five-year basic plan(2011-2015) to deal with low fertility and population ageing. The basic plan aims at providing support for working families in balancing work and family life and helping people ease the burden of marriage, childbirth, and raising their children. The work-family balance policies based on gender equality will do much to increase fertility rates in the future. In this context, this study examined current status and problems of balancing work and family life in our society, the Korean government and corporate policies for work-family balance, and the effects of policies on childbirth. Suggestions for future directions are presented.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.55
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• pp.129-156
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• 2017

The study was conducted to identify factors that affect the first childbearing decisions among married working women in South Korea and thereby to gain insight into effective ways to improve relatively low fertility and unfavorable workplace conditions for women of childbearing age. This study used the merged data(1st-5th waves) from Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (KLoWF), which were measured by the Korean Women's Development Institute. With 1,020 married business women, cross tab and binary logistic regression were conducted to determine which factors were significantly associated with the first childbearing decisions.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.93-100
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• 2022

This study is a descriptive survey study that applies the planned behavior theory to identify the factors influencing the childbirth intention of unmarried men and women. Data were collected from April 05 to April 23, 2021 for 168 unmarried men and women. As a result of the study, in general characteristics, male, old, highly educated, occupational, and non-regular workers had statistically significantly higher childbirth intentions. As a result of examining the correlation between the variables constituting the theory of planned behavior(TPB), it was found that the more positive the attitude toward childbirth, the greater the subjective norm, and the greater the perceived behavior control, the higher the intention to give birth. Multiple regression analyses showed that the factors affecting fertility intention on men and women. The factors affecting fertility intention in men was attitude, with an explanatory power of 62.2% and the factors affecting fertility intention in women were attitudes and perceived behavioral control, and the explanatory power of these variables on fertility intention was 69.0%. In order to increase the intention to give birth, a comprehensive approach is needed, and the research is meaningful in that the results of this study provided basic data in the development of policies and education programs related to low birth rates in the future.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.47-54
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• 2022

Purpose: This study presents the analysis on space usage of delivery departments in regional public hospitals. The results intention is to achieve improvement of the delivery environment for the mothers and newborns regarding exposure prevention and efficient infection control. The purpose of this study is to provide fundamental data for architectural plans and guidelines for the delivery department. Method: The investigation and analysis were based on research papers, legal systems, public medical statistical data, and the architectural floor plan drawing. For research, 20 regional public hospitals with an operating delivery room were excluded. Regarding data accessibility, 15 regional public hospitals were selected. Results: To overcome the increased vulnerability of the delivery department, the research results of basic data is provided for the establishment to address urgent needs and rapid response. Thus, the research results are as follows: Firstly, the delivery department needs to respond promptly according to the type of patients. For example, in a case of emergency surgery, a connected circulation plan with the related departments is needed. Secondly, for the environment of the delivery area, alleviating anxiety is imperative for pregnant patients and guardians, labor, childbirth, and recovery. Therefore, these needs must be addressed for treatment space and circulation. Lastly, the delivery department is classified into three areas for analysis: access area, treatment area, and support area. In most of the delivery departments of the 15 selected hospitals, there is no space for the access and support area except for the labor and delivery rooms in the treatment area. For the access area, a waiting area, changing room for pregnant women and guardians, and a storage space for contaminated linens are required for infection prevention, safety, and efficiency. For the treatment area, childbirth processes and circulation should have space reserved for labor, delivery, recovery, examination, and treatment. In preparation for an emergency during childbirth, emergency response measures and supporting space needs to be established. For the support area, circulation and rooms are to be designed for medical staff support, activity space, storage and transportation of equipment, and urgent medical treatment. Implications: Along with the low fertility rate and the decrease of medical institutions that operate delivery departments, for the purpose of establishing a public medical service system and a healthy medical environment for mothers and newborns, the researched information demonstrates basic data on space plan of delivery departments in regional public hospitals.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.198-204
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food shortage situation in North Korea has gained much interest, however food insecurity caused by the food shortage in North Korean households has not been much investigated. This study examined food security experiences and food consumption pattern of displaced North Korean households currently living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Food security experience among 51 North Korean households living in South Korea was examined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) in three time points: immediately before childbirth, immediately before leaving North Korea, and immediately before entering South Korea. Meal/snack consumption frequencies and food diversity were also examined. RESULTS: Food security situation was the worst at the time of immediately before leaving North Korea with the average HFIAS score of 10.05. The households that were food insecure, they tended to be "severely" insecure. Although majority of the subjects reported having three or more meals a day, food diversity in their diet was very low with the average food diversity score of 2.17 immediately before childbirth and 1.74 immediately before leaving North Korea. Their diet appeared to heavily rely on grain and vegetable. CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of few that specifically examined food security of North Korean households with a pre-developed scale, and that demonstrated food security situation at different time points in quantified terms. Replicating this study with different groups of North Korean households for different time points would allow more complete understanding of impacts of food shortage. Food diversity score could provide a good way to examine changes of food consumption occurring to North Koreans in the process of adaptation. More attention to the changes occurring during adaption to South Korea should be given to understand the process and impact and to prepare public nutrition policy for the re-unified Korea.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.33-59
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• 2017

In this paper, we describe the economic model of Becker's demand for child and examine whether the number of children and spending on private education in Korea can be explained by this model. The results show that household income has no significant effect on the number of children but has a significant positive effect on the spending on private education per child. These results suggest that the low fertility rate in Korea may increase the demand of parents for the quality of their children due to the increase of household income. And the higher the household income, the parents' education level and the child's age, the higher the spending on private education per child. These results show that there is a possibility of education and wealth transfer between parents and children through educational investment.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.6 s.84
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• pp.161-176
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to conduct a family impact analysis to examine the effects of policies to lower fertility in families in Korea. Data were collected from a purposive sample of three groups of government officials, family scholars, and staff at family-related organizations and associations. 105 family policy professionals responded to the self-report questionnaire. The family impact analysis scale was formulated by the researcher based on Ooms'(1995)'A checklist for assessing the impact of policies on families' and Lawson & Lawson's(2001)'An example on family impact analysis checklist or inventory.' The results showed there were eight factors in the family impact analysis on the policies to low fertility in Korea; strengthening family membership and stability; providing various convenient public services; recognizing family interdependence; recognizing the efficiency of implementing policies and support of vulnerable families; strengthening the family function of childbirth; recognizing family relationships; preventing family problems and empowering families; and recognizing family diversity. The conclusions and implications of these findings were also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2009

Objectives : Prevalence of postpartum depressive disorders reaches approximately 10-15% of childbearing women. This preliminary study was intended to explore the relationships between postpartum depressive disorders and family adaptability and cohesion. Methods : Childbearing women(n=24) were assessed for risk factors for postpartum depression before and after childbirth prospectively. At gestational age between 36th and 40th week, the questionnaire about various factors before childbirth, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale(EPDS), Family adaptability-cohesion evaluation scale (FACES), and Beck anxiety inventory(BAI) were assessed. After childbirth, for the diagnosis of postpartum depressive disorders, a structured diagnostic interview according to MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview was performed, furthermore, the questionnaire about various factors after childbirth, EPDS, and BAI were assessed at 4-6 weeks postpartum. Results : Among various factors and scales, family adaptability and cohesion, mood symptom and change during pregnancy were associated with postpartum depressive disorder in comparison with non-postpartum depressive disorder subjects. In addition, low family adaptability and cohesion and mood change during pregnancy were significantly associated factors with postpartum depressive disorder using logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : The results suggest the postpartum depressive disorder could be related with prenatal low family adaptability and cohesion. This preliminary study, however, includes only a few subjects, so that further large-sized study will be needed to replicate our results.