• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2007

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate how willingness to have an additional childbirth was related to mother's general characteristics and various reasons for avoiding an additional childbirth. Methods: By using organized questionnaire, we had face-to-face interviews with 722 mothers who had 12 to 36 months child in a urban-rural area of Chungcheongnam-do from 14 February to 19 February in 2005. Questionnaires included general characteristics composed of age, monthly income, number of children, major carers and mother's job status, and 6 reasons for avoiding an additional childbirth. We performed chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 722 mothers, 66.5% had no willingness to have an additional childbirth. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, old age of mother(95% CI of OR: 1.084-1.190), two or more children(95% CI of OR: 6.97-15.602) and weak norm about need for a child(95% CI of OR: 1.633-29.352) were independent related factors with willingness to have an additional childbirth. Conclusions: In our study, 2/3 women who already had children were appeared to have no willingness to have additional childbirth. Policies about family planning and controlling birth rate should be focused on eliminating barrier to additional childbirths.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.9 no.1 s.17
• /
• pp.81-94
• /
• 1991

The Purpose of this study is to determine how Korean and United Sates families manage resourcese. Further, socioeconomic and social psychological determinants of frequency of family resoures management will be investigated for each country. Comparision of results well be made to find similarities and differences between Korea and the U.S. Most studies of family resource management have used urban samples, so this study adds to understanding of another segment of the populations. Family resource management variables, as dependent variables, were measured by asking respondents how often they used a variety of wasys to handle finances and time. Independent variables were : (a) total household income, (b) respondents education, (c) respondents ages, (d) householder size, (e) family adaptability, (f) family cohesion, and (g) interpersonal communications. Data for the Korean sample were collected in rural areas of South Korea during summer 1989, U.S. data were collected in two counties of Illinois. The data used in this study include 473 Korean samples and 301 U.S. families. In both samples, the respondent was the financial manager, the person who usually handled the finances and paid the bills. The data were analyzed by frequencys, t-test, and multiple regression analysis methods. As a results, U.S. respondents tended to engage in family resource management more frequently than Korean respondents. This could be attributed to a longer history of consumer education and financial management education taught in the public schools and through the Cooperative Extension Service in the U.S. Social-psycological variables were significant predictors of frequency of family financial management in both samples. the differences in both samples are that, in Korea, frequency of family financial management increased as household size and educational years increased, however, in the United States, the relationships of these variables were not significant. Some similarities and differences were found in Korea and the U.S. families, and this results represents that interpersonal communications are important determinants, even in different cultures. One hadn, the difference of socio-cultural factors result as the difference of some statisical differences. Findings from this study have important implications for research and education, and can be applicated to study of family resource management in other rural areas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5237-5242
• /
• 2015

Background: Socioeconomic factors are associated with screening in terms of reducing the risk of cervical cancer. This study aimed to clearly establish the effect of screening on variation in socio-economic factor-specific survival estimates. Materials and Methods: Survival estimates were calculated using the life table method for 165 women from the routine care control arm and 67 from the visual inspection with acetic acid screening arm diagnosed with cervical cancer during 2000-2006 in rural south India. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the variation in survival by socioeconomic factors. Results: Whereas there was a significant variation in survival estimates of the different categories of age at diagnosis among the screen-detected cancers with women aged<50 years having an improved survival, no significant variation was noted among women diagnosed with cervical cancer from the control arm. Compared to the variation among the cancer cases detected in the unscreened control group, screening widened the variation in survival estimates by age and type of house, and reduced the variation by education. The direction of the magnitude of the survival estimates was reversed within the different categories of occupation, marital status and household income in the screen-detected cancer cases compared to control group cancer cases. Also, women diagnosed with stage 1 disease had a very good survival. Conclusions: Screening changed the pattern of survival by socio-economic factors. We found improved survival rates in screened women aged <50 years, with no formal education, manual workers and married women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.1919-1924
• /
• 2014

Background: In India, breast cancer is the leading malignancy among women in a majority of the cancer registries. Therefore it is important to understand screening practices and its predictors, including in rural areas with high female literacy and good health indices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study with multistage sampling was conducted in Vypin Block, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Four Panchayats (self administration units) were randomly chosen and a woman in every second household was invited to participate from the tenth ward of each. Thus a total of 809 women were interviewed. Results: The majority of the repondents (82.1%) were not aware of risk factors and about a third (37.9%) were not aware of symptoms of breast cancer. About half of the population studied (46.6%) had undergone screening. Age (35-50 years), being married, health professionals as source of information and working were significant predictors of screening. Logistic regression showed that older women (35-50 yrs) were more likely to practice screening. Out of the never screened, about a third (35%) were desirous of doing it, but had not for various reasons and 53.5% were not willing to screen. The reasons identified for not screening among those desirous of doing it were grouped into knowledge 66 (43.4%), resources 23 (15.1%) and psychosocial 32(21.1%) factors. Unmarried women were significantly more likely to express factors related to all the three domains. Conclusions: This study showed that in spite of the absence of a population-based screening program, about half of the study population had undergone some type of screening. The older women (35-50 years) in particular were significantly more likely to practice screening. At this critical juncture, a high quality breast cancer awareness and screening initiative can help to consolidate the gains and tackle knowledge, resource and psychosocial barriers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.26 no.3 s.43
• /
• pp.412-429
• /
• 1993

For the purpose of promotion of mental health in the rural elderly, the author surveyed 558 elderlies aged 60 years or more, and assessed the prevalence rates of depression and cognitive impairment by using self-rating depression scale of Zung (SDS) and the Korean version of mini-mental state examination (MMSEK). Also the association between depression or cognitive function and socio-environmental factors were investigated. The major findings were as follows ; 1. The prevalence rates of severe depression and cognitive impairment were 20.9% and 14.9% in all the elderly of both sexes, respectively. 2. The rates of depression and cognitive impairment increased with increasing age in both sex groups. The mean scores of SDS increased and the mean scores of MMSEK decreased significantly among them (p<0.01). 3. Those being female, widows or widowers, and those having low levels of physical activity, showed significantly high the mean scores of depression and had significantly low the mean scores of cognitive impairment (p<0.01). 4. The depression scores relating to decreased libido, confusion, psychomotor retardation, hopelessness and indecisiveness were relatively high in both sexes. 5. All the items of mini-mental state examination were significantly correlated with depression. 6. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on depression, MMSEK, level of physical activity, chronic disease, marital status and family income were selected as highly correlated variables, and the $R^2$-value for these variables was 33.7%. 7. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on cognitive function, level of physical activity, age, depression, sex and marital status were selected as highly correlated variables, and the $R^2$-value for these variables was 62.6%. The depression and cognitive impairment of the elderly were positively correlated with nearly all sociodemographic variables.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.552-559
• /
• 2013

This study is conducted in order to investigate the prevalence of vitamin mineral (VM) supplement use and its related factors among Korean adolescents. Using a cross-sectional study design, information was obtained by questionnaires from adolescents selected by stratified sampling in large, small and middle-size cities, as well as rural areas of the whole country, followed by convenience sampling. The total number of participants in this study was 1,407 adolescents ($15.2{\pm}1.6$ years) attending middle or high schools, chosen from various cities and rural areas in Korea. The prevalence of VM supplement use was 65.5%, and there was no significant difference between the genders. City dwellers took VM supplements more frequently than those adolescents from rural areas (p < 0.01). The VM supplement users tended to have higher family income, parents' academic background, and socioeconomic status, respectively (p < 0.001). The greater part of VM supplement users replied that they acquired their nutritional information from their parents, relatives and friends, while many nonusers replied that they did it from school classes (p < 0.05). Compared to nonusers, VM supplement users had greater 'self concern about health' (p < 0.05), 'parents' concern about child's health, growth, and nutritional intake' (p < 0.001), and 'parents' concern about child's grade point' (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between users and nonusers when it came to 'self perception of body shape' or 'BMI'. In addition, users significantly had greater nutritional beliefs concerning VM supplements than nonusers (p < 0.001). These results showed that VM supplement use has been common among adolescents in Korea, and supplement use of subjects has been related with various factors. Among them, it was shown that especially parents great influence the use of VM supplements by adolescents. Thus, not only education for adolescents, but also that for parents is needed to help adolescents take VM supplements properly.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.85-97
• /
• 2000

The goal of this study is mainly to improve the quality of life for the elderly by understanding the actual condition of the home management which includes their family relationship, family finance, and household work carried out in their domestic lives and diagnosing problems possibly restated from the condition. The result includes the following. The characteristics of rural elderly living alone: They have lived in rural area since their marriage which is over 40 years long in average, The tend to be satisfied with living apart themselves. The majority of the families are the first son in their family. In home management regard: First, in family relationship, the way the elderly in their nuclear family state communicate with their spouse is limited, and they hardly speaks together. So it is encouraged for couples to forge their own specific relationship and to plan for their odd age in their younger age. Also, they tend to be satisfied with living separated from their children, but at the same time, the closer they live in distance from their children, the more often they meet their children as well as they talk on the phone. They especially depend on their first son for offerings for ancestors and matters to occur after their death, while they get emotional support from daughters. Second, in family finance, their income varies in range from 200,000 to 3,000,000 won. In the majority f the famines, the wives are in charge of finance. The cost of living is mainly spent on flood, clothing, and housing, or the cost of offerings for ancestors if they are the head family. Third, Meanwhile, the housewives under 70 years old are positive about household work and tend to consider it pleasant for their children and their husband. Generally, the older they are, the more they dislike household labor. For example, food preparation is especially considered a major problem. Community dinning rooms, food delivery service, volunteers, and home helper and neighborhood could be help.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.279-289
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to survey and diagnose operation status of the agricultural machinery rental service, analyse and compare operational efficiency among 82 city and county ATDEC (agricultural technology development and extension center) using the DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) method, and recommend future direction, for improvement of the business. Input variables were invested budget and labor, and output variable was rental return. Percentages of return to investment on the rental service were calculated as 68.3% and 63.9% when analyzed with CCR (Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes) and BCC (Banker, Charnes and Cooper) models, respectively, indicating inefficiency of the service operation. Increase of rental charge would increase efficiency by 63.9~68.3% depending on models, and decrease of financial and labor investment would improve the efficiency by about 11.3%. Technical efficiency would be more important than scale efficiency, therefore adjustment of over-invested budget and labor needed to be made together with increase of rental charge to improve the operation. Among the ATDECs providing the rental service, 6 (7.3%), 43 (52.4%), and 33 (40.2%) were in state of CRS (constant return to scale), IRS (increasing return to scale), and DRS (decreasing return to scale), respectively. These indicated public aspects of the rental system, over-investment, lack of output component for input component, meaning that scale income would be increased by qualitative expand of rental charge. Efficiency analysis of the rental system by region showed that efficient ATDECs to be benchmarked by others were in the order of DMU-70, DMU-54, DMU-29, DMU-5, DMU-22, DMU-2, and DMU-61. More comprehensive and extensive survey and analyses would be necessary in the future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.85-97
• /
• 2007

This study aimed at analyzing the economic effect of outdoor swimming pool investment using the reservoir's amenity resources. We focused on the identification of the amenity value of reservoir in the rural area and the economic evaluation for establishing This study aimed at analyzing the economic effect of outdoor swimming pool investment using the reservoir's amenity resources. We focused on the identification of the amenity value of reservoir in the rural area and the economic evaluation for establishing infrastructure such as swimming pool based on the reservoir's landscape value. To this end, we have conducted the case study on the outdoor swimming pool in connection with Go-Bok reservoir in Yeon-Gi county, Chungnam Province and estimated its income effect on the rural community by cost-benefit analysis method. The research results are as follows; 1) Outdoor swimming pool participants, with 11,581 visitors totaled to Yeon-gi county every year, was estimated to spend the worth of 58,446 thousand won paid for the agricultural product purchase and etc. 2) Internal rate return of the outdoor swimming pool project was estimated to 16.19%, which considered to be economically feasible comparing with 10% of current capital opportunity cost. Based on the results of this study, we suggest the following strategies for development of amenity value of swimming pool in connected with the reservoir; 1) Reservoir amenities should be well preserved even after construction of swimming pool lest losing amenity values while managing the facilities. 2) Measures to increase the marketing value of intangible reservoir's amenities through promotion should be established. 3) Effective program for more visitors with longer staying and more agricultural products sales should be designed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.104 no.4
• /
• pp.668-676
• /
• 2015

The objective of this paper is to elicit some policy implications to promote agroforestry in South Korea from the consumers' perspective. We conducted internet survey to 640 urban households about the recognition of forest farming products. Consumers purchased forest farming products for their nutrition, medical function, and safety and regarded them as higher quality than crops cultivated from agricultural land. Consumers preferred forest farming products but revealed no difference in recognition of naturally-grown products. Consumers buying forest products prioritize the quality and medical function among attributes. Among consumers as their income increases, they regard naturally grown products more important than price and freshness. Therefore, to promote agroforestry in South Korea, certification for naturally-grown products to win the consumers' trust and the $6^{th}$ industrialization by combining experience and green tourism program must be considered.