• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.61-77
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• 2016

This study was conducted on 2016 $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ grade middle school students in order to investigate of their perceptions and needs on sewing practice class, which had been experienced during their $6^{th}$ grade elementary school year. Implications and improvement for sewing practice class to be drawn from this study. The findings are as follows: Firstly, the levels of satisfaction with the practice contents and teaching learning method were higher than the median value(3.00). Among the subareas of class evaluation, participation scored the highest average, followed by interest, difficulty, necessity, importance, and utilization. In the entire subareas, girl students have more positive perceptions on sewing practice classes than boy students. Secondly, satisfaction with the practice contents has an effect on all subareas of class evaluation. The satisfaction with the teaching learning method has an effect on participation, interest, importance and utilization. Lastly, as for the practice contents, they would prefer household items and ornament, and want to choose sizes freely. As for students' needs for a new teaching learning method through which students are allowed to freely make objects or create works through a group activity, it was higher than the median value. This study showed that practice contents and teaching learning method are important factors that affect class evaluation. This study suggested that sewing practice class should be conducted freely choosing of practice contents, making the group works, group or student-led activities. If sewing practice class is designed in consideration of the results and students' needs for class, students' perceptions on class is expected to change in a positive way.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-50
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• 2005

This study estimates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for avoiding the destruction of a first-grade ecological area by means of contingent valuation method. Specifically, we employ the dichotomous choice technique along with the follow-up questionnaires. Our analysis implies the yearly WTP per household for avoiding the destruction of the ecological area of 100,000 pyongs is 8,898 won with the 95% confidence interval of 6,611~11,976 won. We estimate the asset value of that area to be 1,707 billion won with the 95% confidence interval of 1,269 to 2,298 billion won. We also decompose the total value of the area into the value of direct (22%) and indirect (38.8%) use, the option value (19.9%) and the conservation value (21.3%). Although using these data for SEEA (the system of integrated environmental economic accounting) is bound by certain restrictions, one could employ our empirical findings as advisory information for decision making in the process of prior environmental review or for assessing the environmental impact.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2011

Hazardous chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals, are known as being harmful to human health were included in oils released by the Herbei Spirit Oil Spill accident in December 2007. To investigate changes of eating habits by the exposure to harmful substances, we conducted 5 focus group interviews for residents at Taean coast areas, who had experienced the oil spill accident. Participants included 46 women (mean age: $57.2{\pm}10.9$) who were mainly responsible for preparing family meals. Focus group discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and categorized by themes. Participants expressed more frequent illness symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, visual loss, and skin diseases after the accident. They mentioned that their worries about economic hardship and worsened health status since the accident induced mental problems, such as depression about their children. Regarding eating habits, participants reported less intakes of fishes and meats and relatively more intakes of vegetables and kimchi due to the lack of household incomes after the accident. Although the participants had been used to collecting or catching fish or shellfish for their consumption previously, they mainly purchased these foods from local markets after the accident. Changes of eating habits induced by the accident included drinking boiled water and having steamed or fried seafood rather than raw seafood. Changes of food intakes occurred less frequently in older adults due to their longterm fixed eating habits, although they felt uncomfortable for having raw fish. The findings of this study clearly present that the exposure of hazardous substances by the oil spill accident had a significant impact on changes in eating habits besides economic, physical, and mental problems among the residents in Taean. Continuous health and nutrition monitoring and support are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.505-511
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• 2007

Objectives : While cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers among women worldwide, there are a number of effective early detection tests available. However, the participation rates in cervical cancer screening among Korean women remain low. After the nationwide efforts in 1988 and thereafter to encourage participation in cervical cancer screening, few studies have investigated the effects of socioeconomic inequality on participation in cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to investigate 1) the level of socioeconomic disparities in receiving cervical cancer screening by age group and 2) if there was an improvement in reducing these disparities between 1995 and 2001. Methods : Using data from the Korean National Health Status, Health Behavior and Belief Survey in 1995, the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1998 and 2001 (sample sizes of 2,297, 3,738, and 3,283), age-standardized participation rates were calculated according to education level, equivalized household income, and job status. Odds ratios and the relative inequality index (RII) were also calculated after controlling for age. Results : Women with lower education levels were less likely to attend the screening test, and the disparities by education level were most pronounced among women aged 60 years and older. The RIIs among women 60 years and older were 3.64, 4.46, and 8.64 in 1995, 1998, and 2001, respectively. Higher rates of participation were reported among those in the highest income category, which was more notable among the middle aged women (40s and 50s). An inconsistent trend in the rate of participation in cervical cancer screening by occupational level was found. Conclusions : Indicators of socioeconomic position seem to have varying impacts on the inequalities in the rates of participation in cervical cancer screening according to age group. These results demonstrate the need for more aggressive and age-based interventions and policy programs to eliminate the remaining inequalities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.94-104
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• 2015

Objectives: Mental health disorders and suicide are an important and growing public health concern in Korea. Evidence has shown that both globally and in Korea, obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing some psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we examined the association between distorted body weight perception (BWP) and suicidal ideation. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2007-2012 Korea National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey (KNHANES), an annual cross-sectional nationwide survey that included 14 276 men and 19 428 women. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between nine BWP categories, which combined body image (BI) and body mass index (BMI) categories, and suicidal ideation. Moreover, the fitness of our models was verified using the Akaike information criterion. Results: Consistent with previous studies, suicidal ideation was associated with marital status, household income, education level, and perceived health status in both genders. Only women were significantly more likely to have distorted BWP; there was no relationship among men. In category B1 (low BMI and normal BI), women (odds ratio [OR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48 to 3.42) were more likely to express suicidal ideation than women in category B2 (normal BMI and normal BI) were. Women in overweight BWP category C2 (normal BMI and fat BI) also had an increased OR for suicidal ideation (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.48 to 3.42). Those in normal BWP categories were not likely to have suicidal ideation. Among women in the underweight BWP categories, only the OR for those in category A2 (normal BMI and thin BI) was significant (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.59). Conclusions: Distorted BWP should be considered an important factor in the prevention of suicide and for the improvement of mental health among Korean adults, especially Korean women with distorted BWPs.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.147-177
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• 2013

Annual total values and thereby assets values of natural resources are determined by sample household WTP estimates and the extent of market. In the current domestic practice of CVM, total numbers of national households were used as the target population to measure total economic values including non-use values. This study proposed an alternative method of calculating potential user groups based on distributions of residential area of visitors in the sample using 4 provincial parks in the Chon Buk area as cases. The sample mean of WTP of Moak Mt. visitors, who are mostly from the nearby Chon Buk provincial area, was estimated to be about 8,215 won. On the other hand, the mean of WTP of Sun Woon Mt., whose visitors are evenly distributed from all over the country, was about 4,693 won. When applied national households as the target population, annual total benefits and thereby asset values of Moak Mt. was high enough to be 86 billion and 1.6 trillion won respectively. However, those of Sun Woon Mt. was low to be 52 billion and 1 trillion. On the contrary, when applied potential user groups of each park as the extent of market, annual total benefits and asset values of Sun Woon Mt. was reversed to be high--23 billion won and 400 billion won respectively. However, those of Moak Mt. was lowered to be 10 billion won and 200 billion won. Furthermore, asset values of the same park were differed by 2 to 8 times according to the way of setting the extent of market.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.48-67
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• 2006

The aim of the study was to examine levels of satisfaction with health care in North Korea and to identify factors associated with it using a convenience sample of North Korean refugees in China. Data from the 2004 Survey of Health Seeking Behavior of North Korean Households conducted by the Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health were used. The study subjects were 273 North Korean refugees whose length of stay in China was less than 3 months. Factor analysis was used to extract factor dimensions from the 12 satisfaction items. Bivariate (t test and ANOVA) and multiple regression analyses were used in examining factors associated with satisfaction with health care use in North Korea Overall, satisfaction level was low ($2.36{\pm}0.36$, score range: 1-5). Of the three-factor dimensions, physician skills scored the highest $(2.93{\pm}0.36)$, followed by drug availability $(2.51{\pm}0.07)$ and general cleanliness $(1.66{\pm}0.55)$. In the multiple regression analysis, having a usual source of care was significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Respondents who identified primary care (section) doctors as their usual source of care tended to be less satisfied than those with the city or county hospital as their usual source of care. County residents tended to report a lower degree of satisfaction with general cleanliness than city residents. Among socioeconomic characteristics, the number of household assets positively predicted satisfaction with drug availability. North Korean residents appear to be dissatisfied with their medical care. It may reflect some inadequacies in the North's universal health care system to meet the healthcare needs of its people.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.51-56
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• 2009

Safety and quality assessment systems are very important in manufacture, storage, transportation, and handling of hazardous materials(hazmat) to prevent hazmat disasters. At present, hazardous materials exist everywhere in our daily lives with various forms of plastics, household products of cleaning and washing detergents, fertilizers or petroleum-related products. However, hazardous materials are dangerous substances when they are released to human or environment. Hazardous materials become very widely used substances in the age of oil-based industrial economy. The Korean Ministry of Environment (KMOE) describes about one hundred thousand types of chemicals are produced and used worldwide. Over four hundred new chemicals are introduced in every year. A crucial question for the Korean hazardous material management may have been raised: Will you be safe from hazardous material incidents? The gas leak disaster at Union Carbide's Bhopal, India in 1984 that made over 6,400 people killed and 30,000 to 40,000 people seriously injured is the representative case for the safety of hazmat. Korea becomes vulnerable to hazmat disaster due to the development of high-tech industry. Thus, the risk assessment system is required to Korea for transferring abandoned hazmat management systems to self-correcting safety systems. This research analyzed characteristics of various hazmat incidents applying statistical analysis methods including frequency analysis or analysis of category data to hazmat incidents for ten years. All of three analyses of category data indicate the significance of causality between hazmat incident site groups and seasons, regional groups, and incident casualty groups.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.18 no.4 s.42
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• pp.157-172
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• 2006

This study was designed to make an analysis of the content related with Korean traditional food culture covered in the section of Food and Nutrition of Home Economics textbooks based on the current 7th curriculum and to investigate the recognition and needs for education on Korean traditional food culture among high school students. Through this, we tried to present basic data contributing to the construction of practical educational content and educational method in relation to Korean traditional food culture. The results of this study are as follows. The content of Korean traditional food culture in the section of Food and Nutrition covered by Home Economics textbooks consisted of 'Setting the Table and Table Manners' for the third graders of middle school, 'Planning and Preparing Invitation and Events' for the freshman of high school, and 'Food Culture and Preparation of Food' for the second and third graders of high school. High school students were proud of themselves on Korean traditional food culture, but fail to apply their knowledge to real household life. In particular, it was proved they didn't understand' Korean Festival Holidays and Annual Customs: The need on the content of Korean traditional food culture showed significant difference in accordance with pride on traditional food culture, its succession in the families and one's recognition. And it was highly correlated with the subordinate variables such as demands, interest, utilization. These results showed that the education of Korean traditional food culture is an area that is demanded and how to cook Korean traditional food should be included in the content for education and practice of cooking and experience of food culture should be dealt with as the educational methods.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.177-200
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• 2008

The study is to investigate the extent to which public sector and private sector have established local governance at the community level. Also, it examines similarity and dissimilarity in the perception of unmet needs in the community service delivery system among local officials and workers in social service agencies for poor female-headed households, using survey questionnaire. It finally aims to propose more effective way of local governance between officials and workers in service agencies, and to improve living conditions for poor female headed households. Results show that first, about 70% of survey participant assess community governance and network system do not work well. Second, the more positive people evaluate their outreach efforts and the network level among community service agencies, the more they perceive that unmet needs are satisfied and recipients are well benefited. Third, the perceptions are significantly different in the extent of service delivery and the unmet needs between local officials and service workers who implement direct social service to female-headed households, after controlling for other related factors. In conclusion, suggestions are given to develope more effective service delivery system for poor female-headed households.