• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.120-134
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• 2021

Purpose: The reproductive health of women in early adulthood can affect pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause in later life. Menstrual symptoms not only affect daily life, but are also a reflection of a woman's reproductive health. This study was conducted to explore the factors affecting menstrual symptoms among university students. Methods: The general characteristics, life style, menstrual characteristics, stress, and menstrual symptom of 177 female students were assessed through an online survey at one university. An independent sample t-test, one-way variance analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed using the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: The menstrual symptom score was 91.68±32.11 points, and the score of 'mood change' was the highest. Stress (��=.38, p<.001), amount of menstruation (��=.20, p=.001), menarche age (��=-.18, p=.003), health problems (��=.16, p=.010), and age (��=.15, p=.016) were found to have a significant effect on menstrual symptom, and the explanatory power of the regression model was 40%. Conclusion: This study investigated the degree and influencing factors of menstrual symptom using the Korean Menstrual Symptom Scale (KMSS) developed for Korean university students. Among the factors influencing menstrual symptom, stress appeared to play a significant role. Stress management, observation of menstrual characteristics, and general health care are necessary to maintain a woman's reproductive health.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate bone mineral density(BMD) and fear of falling and falls efficacy in the middle and old aged women over 50 years. Methods: The subjects consisted of 409 women. One-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlations and multiple regression were used to test the BMD, fear of falling and falls efficacy scale by using SPSSWIN 12.0. The BMD of the calcaneus were measured with peripheral dual energy x-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). Results: The average age was 63 years old and the average T-score was -3.21 in patient with osteoporosis, -1.72 with osteopenia, and .13 with normal. There were significant differences in the status of the BMD according to age(p=.000), height(p=.000), weight(p=.000), married status(p=.000), age of menarche(p=.002), and menopause(p=.002). The fear of falling was related with falls efficacy(r=-.247, p=.01), BMD(r=-.337, p=.01). Falls efficacy($\beta$=-.21, p=.000)and BMD($\beta$=-.26, p=.000) were predicting variables of fear of falling. The model explained 13% of the variance in fear of falling(F=27.38, p=.000). Conclusion: Fear of falling and falls efficacy were related with the bone mineral density. Falls efficacy and BMD may be useful for the predicting fear of falling for women in middle and old age. Further studies with assessment of fall-related risk-factors and a longitudinal study are necessary to assess with falls efficacy, and BMD with age.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2000

We carried out a case-control study to investigate protective effect of lactating against breast cancer in Korea. Cases (n=108) were the newly histologically identified breast cancer between December 1997 and August 1999. Hospital-based controls were selected by frequency matching method with age ($\pm$4 age) and menopausal status from the patients at the same hospital in the plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology department. Interviews included information on general characteristics of subjects, disease history, family history of breast cancer, vitamin supplementation, alcohol intake, food intake, and reproductive factors as well as lactation history. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression. Age distribution of case control subjects were similar. Late menarche age $\geq$ 17 in premenopausal women was related to the lower risk of breast cancer OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.28-0.91. Family history of breast cancer was related to the higher risk of breast cancer only in premenopausal women (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.35-2.71). Higher body mass index mass index (> 30) were associated with higher risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. For premenopausal women, women who had lactated $\geq$ 12 months to the first child had a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.24-0.97) than the women had no breast feeding experience. However, results from postmenopausal women did not show an association with decreased breast cancer risk. These findings suggest that lactation may be a protective factor of breast cancer in Korean women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6347-6352
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• 2015

Background: Breast malignancies are one of the leading causes of deaths in females worldwide. There are a number of risk factors associated with breast cancer but in Karachi Pakistan there are insufficient data available. Materials and Methods: A case control study was conducted on females in age group between 30-80 years. This study was accomplished by retrospective data collection in Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 108 females with primary malignancy of breast were included along with 108 matched controls. Relationship of various factors with disease was studied using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals. Results: A total of 14 variables were analyzed and based on and 7 were found to be risk factors: old age, family history of breast cancer, family history of other carcinomas, personal history of breast carcinoma, early age of menarche, older age of mother at first delivery and lower number of children. Five factors, parity, breast feeding, history of oral contraceptive pills intake, past history of oophorectomy and hysterectomy showed protective associations. One variable, use of hormonal replacement therapy, showed a controversial link and one other, marital status, was not significant in this study. Conclusions: It is concluded that most of the well-known risk factors for breast cancer are also associated with the disease in the female population of Karachi, Pakistan. High risk patients should be the focus with the help of this study so that screening can be more effective for early diagnosis before clinically evident breast malignancy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3635-3640
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• 2014

Aim: To determine whether induced abortion (IA) increases breast cancer (BC) risk. Materials and Methods: A population-based case-control study was performed from Dec, 2000 to November, 2004 in Shanghai, China, where IA could be verified through the family planning network and client medical records. Structured questionnaires were completed by 1,517 cases with primary invasive epithelial breast cancer and 1,573 controls frequency-matched to cases for age group. The information was supplemented and verified by the family planning records. Statistical analysis was conducted with SAS 9.0. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, induced abortions were not found to be associated with breast cancer with OR=0.94 (95%CI= 0.79-1.11). Compared to parous women without induced abortion, parous women with 3 or more times induced abortion (OR=0.66, 95%CI=0.46 to 0.95) and women with 3 or more times induced abortion after the first live birth (OR=0.66, 95%CI =0.45 to 0.97) showed a lower risk of breast cancer, after adjustment for age, level of education, annual income per capita, age at menarche, menopause, parity times, spontaneous abortion, age at first live birth, breast-feeding, oral contraceptives, hormones drug, breast disease, BMI, drinking alcohol, drinking tea, taking vitamin/calcium tablet, physical activity, vocation, history of breast cancer, eating the bean. Conclusions: The results suggest that a history of induced abortions may not increase the risk of breast cancer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.215-225
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• 2006

Precocious puberty is defined as the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before age 8 years in girls (or menarche before age 9 years) and before 9 years in boys. The age of onset of puberty is progressing to younger age. The pubertal activation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) release requires coordinated changes in excitatory or inhibitory amino acids, growth factors, and a group of transcriptional regulators. A number of factors affecting precocious puberty were explored, including the role of genetic factors, nutrition(body fat) and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In addition to the psychosocial disturbances associated with precocious puberty, the premature pubertal growth spurt and the accelerated bone maturation result in reduced adult height. Precocious puberty may be gonadotrophin-dependent premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator or gonadotrophin-independent. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty, GnRH agonists appear to increase final height. However more data on the effect and long-term safety of GnRHa are needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 1998

This study was performed to compare the transcultural differences on perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes and sex role acceptance between Korean and American college students. The subjects, 2557 nursing students were selected from 13 universities all around Korea, and 4 universities in the eastern, western, and middle areas of the United States. The data were collected using the MDQ (Menstrual Distress Questionnaire by Moos), the MAQ(Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire), and the Sex Role Acceptance Scale, the subjects answered the MDQ for three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual based on their recollections) between July, 1996 and April, 1997. The findings are as follows : 1. There were significant differences in the age of menarche, duration of menstruation, and menstrual cycle between the Koreans and the Americans. 2. As for sex role acceptance, Americans more frequently denied the traditional female role than did Koreans. 3. There were significant differences between the two groups on five categories of menstrual attitude (menstruation is a phenomena that weakens women physically and psychologically, menstruation is a bothersome phenomena, menstruation is a natural phenomena, menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena, and menstruation is a phenomena that does not influence womens' behaviors non is expected to). 4. For the menstrual discomfort scores, there were significant differences between the two groups on all six categories of the MDQ(pain, attention deficit, behavioral changes, AMS response, water retention, and negative emotion) for the three points (premenstrual, menstrual, intermenstrual period). 5. The most common complaints for the Korean women were pain during the perimenstrual period and fatigue during the intermenstrual period. In contrast, for the Americans the most common complaint was negative emotions during the perimenstrual period, but less pain than the Koreans, and a similarity to Koreans during the intermenstrual period. 6. Regularity of the menstrual cycle was positively correlated with age of menarche, menstrual cycle, and duration of menstruation. 7 For the interrelationship between of Perimenstrual discomforts, menstrual attitudes, and sex role acceptance, there were significant correlations for both group as follows : First, the MA category "menstruation is a bothering phenomena" was negatively correlated with sex role acceptance, second, the MA category "menstruation is a phenomena that weakens the women physically and psychologically" was positively correlated with the MA category "menstruation onset is a predictable phenomena." For the further research, it is recommended that efficient nursing intervention programs for perimenstrual discomforts, be developed and qualitative research to demonstrate the cultural differences as the feminism view point be done.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.277-286
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• 2020

This study aimed to examine bone health awareness and knowledge and the bone mass-improving behaviors of female nursing college students. The subjects were 172 nursing students attending nursing colleges. The data were collected from March 16 to April 4, 2020, by using bone health awareness, bone health knowledge, and bone mass-promoting behavior assessment tools. Descriptive statistics are presented, and t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multi-regressions were used for data analysis. Students' bone health awareness was 1.79, bone health knowledge was 8.86, and bone mass-promoting behavior level was 2.78. There were significant negative correlations between bone mass-promoting behavior level and age of menarche (r = 0.21, p = .004) and sun exposure (r = 0.44, p < .000). Also, bone mass-promoting behavior level and knowledge of bone health were negatively correlated (r = 0.21, p = .005). Regression analysis showed that knowledge of bone health (β = 0.21, p = .005), age of menarche (β = 0.20, p = .005), and sun exposure (β = 0.38, p < .000) were significant predictors of bone mass-promoting behaviors and their variance explanation power was 20.6%. Based on these results, education to improve knowledge of bone health will help to improve bone health and increase bone mass-promoting behaviors among young women.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.74-86
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• 1991

This study tried to clear the characteristics of height growth pattern depending on Peak Height Velocity age in early, average and late groups. And in it, height growth tendency of girl students in age 7 to 18 years old was compared and investigated in order to know influencing factors, menarcheal age relation. The samples were senior girl students at high school in Seoul. Longitudinal data and survey data were collected in August, 1990. The results could be summarized as follows: 1. On distance curve, the height growth line in early group tended to be the highest and in late group the lowest. On the other hand, on velocity curve late group showed the highest peak and early group showed the lowest peak. In late group, velocity curve was too steep. Of course, these early, average and late groups were classified by PHV age. 2. In these three groups, late group showed the most growth amount per year. However, on distance curve, early group showed higher line than late group. Perhaps this means that peak growth amount in late group might have an effect on mean. 3. Growth amount of adolescence spurt age in these three groups was 6.86cm at age 9(early group), 7.27cm at l1(average group) and 7.65cm at 13(late group). In early group, because. PHV age came too early, it was difficult to find exact adolescence spurt period. In early group, the adolescence spurt period is considered to come at about age 7 to 9. In average group, at 9 to 11 and at 12 to 13 in late group. Especially, spurt of late group was remarkable. 4. When the growth amount of PA, before PA and after PA was compared, growth amount of PA in all three groups was about 20%. In early group, growth amount of APV tended to be large and in late group, that of APV tended to be large and in late group, that of BPV was large. In average group, growth amount of BPV was larger than that of APV. 5. For the purpose of comparing total height growth amount of these groups at age 18, the height growth was assumed to be over. And then, the difference of three groups was studied but it's not significant. 6. Although the difference between height growth and family environment, dietary habits, exercise, disease history in these three groups was investigated, only the income was significant. The significance of all the other factors was not approved. 7. When menarcheal age was compared with PA, generally we know menarche appeared after 1∼2 years of PHV age. But in case of early group, the difference between PHV age and menarcheal age was 5.34 years. In average group, 2.45 years and 0.82 years in late group.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.261-271
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• 1996

Introduction: Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disorder, is a condition of reduced bone density and increased susceptibility to fractures. Osteoporosis is a major public health problem and a significant cause of morbidity in postmenopausal women. Therefore family physicians as primary care physicians are in a key position for preventing and treating this disorder. So we studied the factors affecting to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A total of 136 spontaneous postmenopausal women were participated in the study. They have measured spinal bone mineral density by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry from January 1992 to June 1995 at Yeungnam University Hospital. Age, height, weight, age at menarche and menopause, number of child and breast feeding child, history of oral pill ingestion, family history of osteoporosis, amount of milk and coffee ingestion, consumption of tobacco and alcohol and physical activity were assessed by qustionnaire and medical records. Results: The mean age is 55.2 and mean age at menopause is 47.9. Height, weight and physical activity were significantly positive correlated to bone mineral density. But age, duration after menopause and number of child were significantly negative correlated. Also age, height, weight, physical activity and duration after menopause were significantly correlated to % age-matched bone mineral density. In multiple regression analysis, which dependent variable is bone mineral density, duration after menopause, physical activity and weight were significant contributors. Duration after menopause is most the largest contributor. In multiple regression analysis, which dependent variable is % age-matched bone mineral density to adjust the age effect, physical activity and weight were significant contributors. Physical activity is most the largest contributor. Conclusions: Among factors affecting to BMD in postmenopausal women, physical activity and weight were more important factors. Therefore continuous physical activity is significant factor to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.