• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 2017

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of the magic program on the depression and self-esteem in rural low-income children. A quasi-experimental study employing a nonequivalent control group and pre-post design was conducted. The participants were children aged 9 to 12 years old from community child center in K province (Experimental group=24, Control group=21). The experimental group participated in the program for 8 sessions for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANCOVA with SPSS 21.0 program. There were significant differences in depression (F=6.68, p=.013) and self-esteem (F=7.61, p=.009) of participants between experimental group and control group after completion of 8-session magic program. The results indicate that the magic program can be used to improve depression and self-esteem of low-income children.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
• /
• v.33 no.46
• /
• pp.288.1-288.12
• /
• 2018

Background: Diarrheal and intestinal infectious disease caused by inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not only a great concern in developing countries but also a problem in low-income populations and rural areas in developed countries. In this study, we assessed the exposure to inadequate WASH in Korea and estimated the burden of disease attributable to inadequate WASH. Methods: We used observational data on water supply, drinking water, sewage treatment rate, and hand washing to assess inadequate WASH conditions in Korea, and estimated the level of exposure in the entire population. The disease burden was estimated by applying the cause of death data from death registry and the morbidity data from the national health insurance to the population attributable fraction (PAF) for the disease caused by inappropriate WASH. Results: In 2013, 1.4% of the population were exposed to inadequate drinking water, and 1.0% were living in areas where sewerage was not connected. The frequency of handwashing with soap after contact with excreta was 23.5%. The PAF due to inadequate WASH as a cluster of risk factors was 0.353 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.275-0.417), among which over 90% were attributable to hand hygiene factors that were significantly worse than those in American and European high-income countries. Conclusion: The level of hand hygiene in Korea has yet to be improved to the extent that it shows a significant difference compared to other high-income countries. Therefore, improving the current situation in Korea requires a continuous hand washing campaign and a program aimed at all people. In addition, continuous policy intervention for improvement of sewage treatment facilities in rural areas is required, and water quality control monitoring should be continuously carried out.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Household overcrowding (HC) can contribute to both physical and mental disorders among the members of overcrowded households. This study aimed to measure the status of HC and its main determinants across the provinces of Iran. Methods: Data from 39 864 households from the 2016 Iranian Household Income and Expenditures Survey were used in this study. The Equivalized Crowding Index (ECI) and HC index were applied to measure the overcrowding of households. Regression models were estimated to show the relationships between different variables and the ECI. Results: The overall, urban, and rural prevalence of HC was 8.2%, 6.3%, and 10.1%, respectively. The highest prevalence of HC was found in Sistan and Baluchestan Province (28.7%), while the lowest was found in Guilan Province (1.8%). The number of men in the household, rural residency, the average age of household members, yearly income, and the household wealth index were identified as the main determinants of the ECI and HC. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the ECI and HC were higher in regions near the borders of Iran than in other regions. Therefore, health promotion and empowerment strategies are required to avoid the negative consequences of HC, and screening programs are needed to identify at-risk families.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.155-172
• /
• 1995

This study is an empirical analysis on the equity in the delivery of heatlh care under the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation System. The purposes of this study are to find out effects of income on the health care utiliztion and measure the income-related inequity in the distribution of health care. This study was carried out based on the fact that the health insurance program has been organized to achieve the equity objective, "equal treatment for equal needs". Of 41, 828 insured persons who had been diagnosed in the 1993 Health Screening Test and utilifzation data from 1, January 1993 through 31, December 1993 were derived from the Benefit Managment File. Inequity was measured by means of I) share approach, ii) standardization concentration curve approach, iii) inequity index, iv) test for inequity. The major findings were as follows : 1. The expenditure shares of the top two quintile groups exceeded their morbidity shares, whereas the opposite was true of the bottom three quintile groups, Which showed a positive HI$_{LG}$ inequity index, suggesting the presence of some inequity favoring the rich group. 2. Compared with other residential areas, the rural area showed the highest positive HI$_{LG}$ irrespective of need indicatior applied. 3. Standardized expenditure concentration indices adjusted by age, gender and need structure were also found to be positive, and therefore still indicated that there has been inequity favoring the rich after the standardization. 4. The Loglikelihood Ratio (LR) test for the statistical significance of income-related inequity of medical care utilization was carried out using the logistic regression model. The resulting loglikelihood ratio test statistic value was 176, which did exceed the 0.5 percent critical value of the chi-square distribution with 28 degrees of freedom, which is 50.993. Therefore, the null hypothesis of no income-related inequity of medical care utilization was rejected at the 99.5 percent confidence level. 5. The Regression based F-test has been carried out for analyzing the income-related inequity of medical expenditure in terms of age, gender, morbidity indicators as explanary variables. The hypothesis of the absence of income-relate inequity was rejected for all need indicators at the 95% confidence level.nce level.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.100-126
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure income differences in smoking prevalence at the district level and to investigate correlations among area deprivation, smoking prevalence, and income differences in smoking prevalence, stratified by urbanity. Methods: Data were pooled from the Community Health Survey data of South Korea between 2008 and 2014. The age-standardized prevalence of smoking and its interquintile income differences were calculated. We conducted correlation analyses to investigate the association of the deprivation index with smoking prevalence and interquintile differences in smoking prevalence. Results: Across 245 districts, the median prevalence of smoking in men was 45.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.4 to 48.5%), with an interquartile range (IQR) of 4.6% points. In women, the median prevalence was 3.0% (95% CI, 2.4 to 3.6%) and IQR was 1.6% points. The median interquintile difference in smoking prevalence was 7.4% points (95% CI, 1.6 to 13.2% points) in men and 2.7% points (95% CI, 0.5 to 4.9% points) in women. The correlation coefficients for the association between the deprivation index and smoking prevalence was 0.58, 0.15, -0.22 in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, respectively, among men, and 0.54, -0.33, -0.43 among women. No meaningful correlation was found between area deprivation and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence. The correlation between smoking prevalence and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence was more evident in women than in men. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of geographical variations in smoking prevalence and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence. Neither smoking prevalence nor the deprivation index was closely correlated with interquintile income difference in smoking prevalence. Measuring inequalities in smoking prevalence is crucial to developing policies aimed at reducing inequalities in smoking.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.125-145
• /
• 2011

The purposes of this study were to examine low-income households' financial statuses and the socio-economic characteristics of single-person and non-single person households according to the financial indexes used for evaluating financial security and growth status developed based on financial ratios. Using 2009 KLIPS(Korean Labor & Income Panel Survey) data collected by the Korean Labor Institute, the satisfaction levels from the indexes were analyzed and compared between the two household types. The results showed that 46.0% of single-person households were not satisfactory in terms of all financial growth indexes but were partially satisfactory in terms of all financial security indexes. These householders tended to be females and in the their 70s, who lived in Seoul or in a suburb of Seoul, Korea. They reported problems with a lack of financial growth possibilities. 47.0% of non-single person households were not satisfactory in terms of all financial growth indexes but were partially satisfactory in terms of all financial security indexes. These householders tended to be males in their 60s and 70s with no job who were living in Seoul or in a suburb of Seoul, Korea. They reported having low level of liquidity and high level of debt redemption. 42.6% of single-person households were not satisfactory in terms of both financial security and growth indexes partially. These householders tended to be females in their 20s or 70s who were living in rural areas. They reported problems related to an adverse balance between household income and expenditures and a large scale of debt. 43.1% of non-single households were not satisfactory in terms of both financial security and growth indexes partially. These householders tended to be males in their 60s or 70s and homeowners. They reported problem related to an adverse balance of household income and expenditures and high a level of housing expenditures and liquidity. The research findings have implication for policy makers considering financial support programs and welfare programs for low-income householders, considering the recent changes in households structures.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2017.10a
• /
• pp.138-145
• /
• 2017

As that experienced in other developing countries, Mongolia has already faced multilateral side issues for two decades due to economic growth that created Ger areas or internationally 'Slum', public housing and living conditions for low-income citizens, on the basis of rapid migration from rural areas to urban. Ger areas appear to be the main cause of environmental pollution problems and impending comfortable living conditions of the city's residents by covering more than half area of Ulaanbaatar city. Also, the spread of the Ger areas has many side issues such as prevention of urban development and unaesthetic. Most inhabitants of the areas are on low-incomes, and living in the detached houses or felt yurts (Ger) usually build within a low budget, by themselves or unprofessional people, and by using materials of poor quality. Therefore, Ger areas are an inevitable issue that requires effective, proper and immediate housing policy coordination under the government and even the housing market. Unfortunately housing policies, laws, and projects adopted by Mongolian government have shown inefficient results. The government housing policies, unlike other developing countries did not target low-income households' housing which is the priority issue for two decades. But only in 2014, the Long-term housing policy with the strategy for affordable housing initiated the housing policy for low-income households. This policy has five main broad directions such as redevelopment of Ger area, the land readjustment, public rental housing, new settlements and new city and reconstruction for old apartments, which are rather general and would require tremendous financial resources if each of the directions is implemented simultaneously without prioritization. Therefore this research aims to suggest the efficient and adequate housing policy direction for the low-income households in Ger area based on achievement of other developing countries' strategies, performances and generic characteristic with explanatory models. Also, this research adopts a literature analysis method that uses various research reports, related papers in domestic and international journals, and theses by experts, researchers, public institutions, and agencies.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.51-61
• /
• 2010

The purpose of the current study was to select vulnerable regions with insufficient child care services based on an in-depth investigation of diverse regional characteristics and to establish a practical goal for the expansion of public child care centers through identifying priority regions in foremost need of public child care centers out of the vulnerable regions. The vulnerable regions were selected from both urban and rural areas with particular criterions to determine their critical situation. First of all, the number of children aged zero to five, private and public child care centers, and capacity and enrolment of the regional child care center were selected from towns (Eup) and townships (Myeon) within rural areas and neighborhoods (Dong) within urban areas to calculate the capacity fulfillment. Specifically, a dense population of low-income families inhabited within urban areas defined the region's vulnerable status for the analysis, whereas poor accessibility of a child care center within rural areas correspond to the lack of child care services. The analytical result displayed that a total of 456 towns and townships did not acquire child care centers. Out of 456 towns and townships, 162 were selected as priority regions. On the other hand, 546 neighborhoods corresponding to upper 30 percentiles of urban area where children receive basic subsidy for low income families were selected as vulnerable regions. Out of 546 neighborhoods, 243 were selected as priority regions according to the analytical result.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.95-109
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study is to assess the utilization and satisfactions about public health centers in Korea. For the analysis, the study utilize the nationwide data of 229,229 person on '2010 Community Health Survey' of Ministry of Health & Welfare. The statistical methodology used in the study is ${\chi}^2$, ANOVA, logistic regression model and multiple regression model. This study have four major findings. First, the significant affecting socio-demographic factors in utilizing public health center were gender, age, region, national basic living secured, married, income, education, job, state of health, chronic disease, unmet medical needs and utilization reason. Second, the most serviced category of health center user was vaccination both city and rural area and the next was certificate, primary care, health screening, other use, the mother and child in city area, primary care, health screening, certificate, home visiting health in rural area. Third, the significant affecting socio-demographic factors in satisfaction degree on health center service were age, region, national basic living secured, income, education, job, state of health, utilization degree and reason. Fourth, the most satisfied service of health service center was home visiting health in city area and mental health service in rural area and the next was nutritive control and the lowest satisfied service was user of certificate. The utilization and satisfaction on health center service were identified as different with residental area and user's characteristics. The politic effort are needed to support socially disadvantaged class and to narrow regional gap.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.77-92
• /
• 1995

The initiative to determine farmland use has been transferred to local side under the decentralized government system in Korea. New Land Act and Rural Development Act support it. Changes in external and internal environments of Korean agriculture require to diversify farmland use. Lpcal development plan may be implemented when specific farmland use plan is prepared. However, (armland use planning has not been prepared by the local governments yet. This study aims to identify problems encountered in current farmland use and suggest directions of effective and reasonable farmland use planning relevant to local conditions. Questionnaire method was used to prove topographical differences of community land demand, Statistical analyses show that farmers desire to utilize marginal farmland for income increase. Growing grass(42.0%) and cash crops(41.7%) was greatly demanded by them. They were generally eager for developing touristic farm (52.1 % ). By topographical characteristics, the eager was greatest in coastal areas, on the contrary, it was relatively low in mountainous areas. There were more farmers who want to expand their farmland in rice farming(48.4%) or rice-horticulture farming(46.9%) areas. Potential retirer among farmers were most in suburban areas, However, it was expected that there would be the highest retirement rate in rice farming areas because of the high rate of aged farmers. Farmland use planning should be incorporated into food production policies and community people's needs for income increase and life improvement. Agriculture promotion areas must be maintained for scale optimized farming and cash crop farming as much as possible. However, minimum portion for other uses in each village or farming community unit should be adopted. Less favored areas will have to be utilized for both agriculture and non-agriculture uses. Priority can be put into touristic resorts as a non-agriculture use. Furthermore, such areas can be used for sustainable agriculture as well as for residence, industry, animal breeding.