• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.379-383
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• 2015

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar mainly affects children in endemic areas. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of VL using direct agglutination test (DAT) in children living in rural districts of Alborz Province located 30 km from Tehran capital city of Iran. Multi-stage cluster random sampling was applied. Blood samples were randomly collected from 1,007 children under 10 years of age in the clusters. A total of 37 (3.7%) of the studied population showed anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies with titers of ${\geq}1:800$. There was a significant association between positive sera and various parts of the rural areas of Alborz Province (P<0.002). Two children with anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies titers of ${\geq}1:3,200$ indicated kala-azar clinical features and treated with anti-leishmaniasis drugs in pediatric hospital. The findings of this study indicated that Leishmania infection is prevalent in rural areas of Alborz Province. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the awareness and alertness among physicians and public health managers, particularly in high-risk rural areas of the province in Iran.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting job satisfaction of Public Health Center Officials in rural area. Methods: The 345 survey samples were divided into public health center officials(n=56) and other serial officials(n=289). Data were analyzed with 𝑥², two sample t-test and regression analysis. Results: First, public health center officials showed a significantly higher job commitment and job satisfaction than other serial civil officials. Second, public health center officials showed the effect of only job commitment on job satisfaction whereas other serial civil officials showed the effect of both job characteristics and job commitment on job satisfaction Conclusion: In order to increase of job satisfaction and provide health education services to the community, it was necessary to improve of motivation and working condition of public health officials.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.123-128
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• 2019

This study divided 409 local residents in G city of Gyeongsangbuk-do into urban area and rural area, and analyzed the satisfaction with using public health center. The subjects of this study were 284 people who had experience using public health centers among 409 people. In rural areas, satisfaction with general care, oriental care, dental care, physical therapy, examination, and vaccination was low. To improve this, it is necessary to expand and improve facilities so that smooth public health services can be provided to local residents. It is necessary to implement health care policies to resolve medical inequality between urban areas and rural areas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.80-93
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• 2006

This purpose was to explore various directions of elderly service welfare space in village community center. Data were collected 3 types that floor plans of village community centers from 24 villages, interview data of these centers use and needs from 24 aged leaders or 96 elderly. The results were as followed: 1) The floor plans of more than 50% was type IV that was composed a basic spaces(entrance, living room, two rooms, kitchen), a toilet space, a heating system space and a storage space. This type was a current basis of the rural village community centers for elderlies. 2) Elderlies used the centers at winter or out of agricultural season, and visited these to pass the time and to promote friendship among them. 3) Also they went these to take a meal together and to save down personal heating expenses. Their needs for centers were a temporary share dwelling space at winter, a maintain social relationship throughout a health, a education and a side work activity, supplying health or sports facilities, and setting up toilet space. Therefore the current centers were needed to add functions of a temporary share dwelling, a energy saving heat system and a social promoting relationship, and so these could be represented to a elderly welfare service center in rural villages.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 2020

Background: Happiness is one of the most important indicators of health, wellbeing, and quality of life among older adults. The objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with happiness among senior citizens residing in rural areas using the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 3,149 senior citizens living in rural areas using secondary data from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans. Happiness was measured by a single question and responses were recorded dichotomously. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed at a 5% level of significance. Results: In all, 64.5% of the participants considered themselves as happy most of the time in the last 1 week. In the study, socio-demographic factors did not predict happiness except age. Satisfaction with a health status, financial situation, relationship with children, cultural satisfaction, and satisfaction with friends and society were positively associated with happiness among senior citizens residing in rural areas of Korea. Odds of reporting happiness were higher among those who traveled in the last 1 year, visited elderly welfare centers, and were involved in voluntary work than among those who did not. Conclusion: Happiness among senior citizen was significantly associated with life satisfaction with regard to health, finance, relationship with family, friends and society, and social activity participation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.226-234
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• 2021

Purpose: The accessibility of medical facilities for cancer patients affects both their comfort and survival. Patients in rural areas have a higher socioeconomic burden and are more vulnerable to emergency situations than urban dwellers. This study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of a cancer care model integrating a regional cancer center (RCC) and public health center (PHC). Methods: This study analyzed the construction of a safety care network for cancer patients that integrated an RCC and PHC. Two public health institutions (an RCC in Gyeongnam and a PHC in Geochang County) collaborated on the development of the community care model. The study lasted 13 months beginning in February 2019 to February 2020. Results: The RCC developed the protocol for evaluating and measuring 27 cancer-related symptoms, conducted education for PHC nurses, and administered case counseling. The staff at the PHC registered, evaluated, and routinely monitored patients through home visits. A smartphone application and regular video conferences were incorporated to facilitate mutual communication. In total, 177 patients (mean age: 70.9 years; men: 59%) were enrolled from February 2019 to February 2020. Patients' greatest unmet need was the presence of a nearby cancer treatment hospital (83%). In total, 28 (33%) and 44 (52%) participants answered that the care model was very helpful or helpful, respectively. Conclusion: We confirmed that a combined RCC-PHC program for cancer patients in rural areas is feasible and can bring satisfaction to patients as a safety care network. This program could mitigate health inequalities caused by accessibility issues.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.682-691
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• 2020

Careful cleaning and disinfection of pigpens is essential to prevent disease spread and avoid the resultant economic losses. Hygiene in pigpens is generally evaluated by visual monitoring supplemented with bacteriological monitoring, which includes counting the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and/or fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). However, these methods present drawbacks such as time and labor requirements. As adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is ubiquitous in all living organisms including microorganisms, this study aimed to directly compare the results of microbial assessment and ATP quantification, and to suggest possible detailed application methods of the ATP test for hygiene evaluation in pigpens of a farrowing unit. Before and after standard cleaning procedures, samples were collected from the floor corner, floor center, and feeding trough of four pigpens at different time points. No FIB were detected and both the TAB and ATP levels were significantly decreased in the floor center area after cleaning. FIB were continuously detected after cleaning and disinfection of the floor corners, and there was no significant ATP level reduction. The feeding trough did not show any significant difference in these values before and after cleaning, indicating insufficient cleaning of this area. The levels of TAB and ATP after cleaning were significantly correlated and the average ATP value was significantly lower in the absence of FIB than in their presence. In the absence of standard references, a more thorough hygiene management could be achieved evenly by supplementing cleaning or disinfection based on the lowest ATP results obtained at the cleanest test site, which in the present study was the floor center. Overall, these results indicate that the on-farm ATP test can be used to determine the cleanliness status, in addition to visual inspection, as an alternative to laboratory culture-based testing for the presence of microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2019

This study is a basic study for the planning of rural community center space, which introduced the concept of healthcare. As the rural community center is a place where the elderly in rural areas live mainly during the day, this place is very important place for the healthy life of the rural elderly. We conducted an interview survey for 207 users over 65. The survey was organized with three regions to consider the regional characteristics of the community center users and geographical characteristics. As a result of the analysis of planning elements, the main preferences for indoor and outdoor space elements are planning elements such as safety, air quality, light, and the thermal environment and safety handle, night lights, safety walkway. These preferences should be considered for the more healthy friendly rural community center.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to compare health risk behavior prevalence for youth living in metropolitan, medium sized and small cities or rural area, in order to enhance understanding regional differences. Methods: For this study, data from the 2006 Youth Health Risk Behavior Online Survey collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control were analyzed using SPSS. Results: In the metropolitan areas, prevalence for disease and perceived obesity were higher than in other areas. Lack of intense or moderate physical activity, obesity, fast food intake, and insufficient sleep showed higher prevalence than in rural areas. Prevalence of lifetime smoking, lifetime alcohol consumption, present alcohol use, fruit intake less than once a day, and not wearing a seat belt were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Gender, smoking, and alcohol use were correlated. Spearman correlation between living with parent and skipping breakfast were significant. Smoking, alcohol use, and sexual behavior were correlated. Conclusion: As significant differences in prevalence of youth health risk behaviors exist between regional areas, health education and health promotion programs considering these differences have to be developed and implemented for adolescents. Programs for prevention of smoking and alcohol use, programs for improvement of fruit intake and safety are suggested for adolescents in rural areas, whereas programs to enhance physical activity and obesity management are suggested for adolescents in metropolitan areas.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a client-centered integrated home nursing care model for rural areas by analyzing public health nursing, hospital-based home care services, and long-term nursing care in Korea. Methods: The literature review performed included data from the National Assembly Library, DBpia, RISS, and KISS, Google Scholar, the Ministry of Government Legislation, Statistics Korea, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Results: The client-centered and integrated home nursing care model in a rural area was opened as the Home Nursing Care Center in a public health center operating directly or on consignment. This model provides both a hospital-based home care services as well as long-term care, in accordance with the health status of the client and difficulty of nursing services. Moreover, the nurse who worked in a sub-organization (Centers for Supporting Healthy Living, Public Health Units, and etc.) of the public health center as care coordinator and case manager facilitates to connect home nursing care services and social welfare services. Conclusions: Our data indicates that the client-centered integrated home nursing care model in rural areas effectively combines professional services, regional accessibility, and social welfare services.