• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2011

As elder abuse has become a social problem, it has drawn a great deal of attention from researchers and policy-planers. While there have been a number of studies addressing various issues related to elder abuse, the present study aims to explain whether and how the perception of elder abuse would differ among the elderly themselves. In particular, the study focuses on the differences between urban and rural areas. Family-centered culture is believed to have a stronger influence in rural areas compared to urban areas. This cultural tradition highlights the importancy of the family compared to the individuals. Thus, the elderly who experience abuse would take it as personal matter rather than publicizing it. In addition, the information and campaigns on preventing elder abuse are less prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas due to limited communication networks. For these reasons, the study suggests a hypothesis that the elderly in rural areas are less perceptive to elder abuse. Using 6,709 persons aged 65 and over from a nationwide survey conducted by the Korean Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2009, the study ran regression analysis on 4 types of elder abuse including psychological, financial, physical and neglect. The results show that regardless of types of abuse, the elderly in rural areas have lower levels of perception than the elderly in urban areas do. In addition, the frequency of social activities is positively related to the perception of elderly abuse. This is also true for the different types of elder abuse. The findings suggest that social effort to prevent elder abuse consider the urban-rural differences and their sources.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2007

Inadequate dietary intakes and poor health behaviors are of concern among rural residents in Korea. This study is conducted to compare dietary intakes, dietary diversity score (DDS), mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) and health related behaviors by rural, factory and urban areas in Asan. A total of 930 adults (351 men and 579 women) were interviewed to assess social economic status (SES), health related behaviors and food intakes by a 24-hour recall method. Mean age was 61.5 years with men being older (64.8 years) than women (59.3 years, p<0.001). Men in the factory area were older than rural or urban men while urban women were the youngest. Education and income of urban residents were higher than other area residents. There were more current drinkers in urban area while smoking status was not different by regions. Physical activity was significantly higher in rural or factory areas, whilst urban residents exercised more often (p<0.05). Rural or factory area residents considered themselves less healthy than others while perceived stress was lower than urban residents. Energy intakes were higher in urban residents or in men, however, after SES was controlled, energy intake did not show any differences. Energy-adjusted nutrient intakes were significantly higher in the urban area (p<0.05) for most nutrients except for carbohydrate, niacin, folic acid, vitamin $B_6$, iron and fiber. Sodium intake was higher in factory area than in other areas after SES was controlled. DDS of rural men and MAR of both men and women in the rural area were significantly lower when SES was controlled. In conclusion, dietary intakes, diversity, adequacy and perceived health were poor in the rural area, although other health behaviors such as drinking and perceived stress were better than in the urban area. In order to improve perceived health of rural residents, good nutrition and exercise education programs are recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of elementary school children's stress and coping behavior in urban and rural areas. The subject included 286 children selected from 4 elementary schools in urban and rural areas. The instruments included the children's stress index and coping behavior questionnaire of the elementary school children. The statistics used from this data were t-test, one-way ANOVA(Duncan test), correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. This study showed significant differences between urban and rural children's stress in school attainment domain, teacher-school domain, home environment domain and surroundings domain. And urban and rural children was different in active, passive/avoidant and aggressive coping behavior. The stress of urban's children was influenced significantly by the grade and school attainment variales, and the rural children's stress was influenced significantly by the gender variable. The coping behavior of urban's children was influenced by the gender, grade and school attainment variables, and also the rural children's coping behavior was influenced by the above variables. Correlation analysis indicated that children's stress and aggressive coping behavior were relative positive high correlation in urban areas, and children's stress and passive/avoidant coping behavior were positive high correlation in rural areas. It was also found that school attainment, aggressive coping behavior and passive/avoidant coping behavior were significant predictors of urban children's stress, and gender, passive/avoidant coping behavior and aggressive coping behavior were significant predictors of rural children's stress.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 1989

To compare the health status of rural and urban aged persons(over 65 years old) by an abnormality of a hematologic and some biochemical values as well as urinalysis and chest X-ray, following examinations were done on 8,756(male : 4,339: female 4,417) by hemoglobin, total cholesteol, GOT, and glucose, on 9,207(male: 4,467; female : 4.740) by urinalysis and on 9,148(male : 4,426: female : 4,722) by chest X-ray. The results are as follows: 1) The proportion of outlier of normal range of the GOT(over 40 unit) showed higher in rural aged persons(5.3%) than in urban aged(2.8%). There was no significant difference in both of urban and rual female, but the rural male(7.4 showed significantly higher than the urban male(3.9% ). 2) The proportion of abnormality of the total cholesterol value(over 260 mg/dl) was 7,0% in urban and 1.7% in rural aged persons. In the male, there was no significant difference in both urban(2.2%) and rural(1.4%), however the urban female(10.5%) showed significantly higher than the rural female(2.2%). 3) In the blood glucose level, the proportion of abnormality(over 120 mg/dl) showed 17.1% in urban and 19.3% in rural aged persons. The rural aged persons in both sexes(male : 18.1% : female : 20.7%) were relatively higher abnormality rates than those of the urban aged(male : 15. 3%: female : 18.4% ) respectively. 4) The proportion of abnormality of hemoglobin level(less than 12.0 g/dl in male: less than 11.0 g/dl in female) showed 7.1% in urban and 2.6%J in rural aged persons. The urban aged persons in both sexes(male : 8.3%: female 6.3%) were relatively higher abnormality rates than those of the rural aged(male : 3.0%: female : 2.2%) 5) In the urinalysis by urine stix(Korea Green Cross Co.), the positive rates of urine protein were 1.0% in urban and 0.5% in rural aged per-sons, and there was no any significant differences in both areas by sex. 6) The positive rates of urine glucose in urban aged persons(5.8'% : male : 7.3% : female : 4.7%). showed relatively higher than those of rural aged (3.4% : male : 3.9%: female : 2.8%). 7) The positive findings of pulmonary tuberculosis by indirect X-ray examination were observed in 7.7% of aged persons in both rural and urban areas respectively. However, the positive rates of male in both areas(urban : 12.8% ; rural : 10.0%) showed higher than those of female (urban 4.2% ; rural 5.0%).

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2013

Objectives: Rural-urban differences in suicide have been observed in many settings. However, there has been little research addressing what factors can explain these differences. The purpose of this study was to analyze which compositional factors and contextual factors in local areas might be related to local suicide. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional. The data for 251 primary local governments on their age-standardized suicide mortality and their predefined indicators of compositional factors and contextual factors were obtained from Korean Statistical Information Service as of year 2010. Bivariate analysis including one-way ANOVA and chi-square test were used to identify the differences in local features by area type. Seven poisson regression models for each of total, males, and females were used to analyze which compositional and contextual factors were related to suicide. Results: There were differences in suicide between gu and goon in total, male, and female groups. For total, compositional factors including divorce and smoking rate, and contextual factors including financial independency, water and waterwaste coverage, and number of wastewater discharge factories were found to explain the urban-rural differences. Conclusions: This study provided some evidence that contextual factors at the local level as well as compositional factors are useful for predicting local suicide mortality.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore differences in determinants of loyalty, including years of loyalty and use of word-of-Mouth (WOM), across rural and urban apparel shoppers. The secondary data used for this study was collected by BIG research in their Consumer Intentions and Actions Study. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted, and the results showed that four store attributes (fashionability, promotion, shopping environment, and retail basics) were positively related to store loyalty. Findings of the study also revealed that the effect of fashionability and retail basics on store loyalty differed significantly across rural and urban consumers while promotion and shopping environment were not different predictors of store loyalty between rural and urban apparel shoppers. Specifically, store attributes of fashionability were stronger antecedents of loyalty for women's clothing shoppers in urban areas than rural shoppers. The retail basics had a greater influence on store loyalty among women's apparel customers in rural areas than customers in urban areas.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2019

Background: Edentulism is associated with socioeconomic status, rural residence, and chronic disease, but no studies have investigated edentulism and residence factors together. All information that drives a better understanding of the factors related to edentulism plays an important role in the planning and delivery of appropriate dental services for the elderly by national and oral health professionals. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of edentulism in adults aged over 60 years in Korea and to examine whether there are differences in dentate status between people living in urban and rural areas after controlling for sociodemographic and other related factors. Methods: The data for this study were collected from 2013 to 2015 as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI, those individuals aged over 60 years and who had complete datasets were included (5,071). The number of teeth and residence status were categorized into two groups: edentate and dentate (1 or more); urban and rural. Multiple multivariate logistic regression analyses were sequentially applied to assess the association between dentate status and residence status after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Rural areas, lower household income, and lower education levels were associated with a higher edentate rate. The number of teeth was lower in rural areas than in urban areas. After adjusting for various factors, statistically significant associations were present for women, low household income, low education level, poor perceived health status, and alcohol consumption in participants. Conclusion: Elders living in rural areas had poorer oral health than elders living in urban areas. The government will need to provide effective systems for promoting oral health for elders living in rural areas.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.495-506
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the nutrient intake, dietary and weight control behaviors and iron deficiency of adolescent girls. The subjects were 216 female middle school students living in urban and rural areas of Inchon. Thin cross- sectional study was conducted by questionnaires and data were analyze by SAS program. Nutrient intakes collected from 3 day-recalls were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program(CAN-pro). The mean height, weight. BMI and obesity index for the subjects were 158.2 cm, 51.1kg, 20.4 and -5.3 % in urban students and 155.9 cm, 49.3 kg 21.1 and -8.2% in rural students, respectively. Easting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for iron nutritional status. The mean obesity index of the urban students was higher than that of the rural students. The proportion of the overweight group was higher in urban students compared to rural students, However, over 10% of both area students belonged to the low weight group, respectively. Most students of both areas skipped breakfast and the main reason was on appetite and lack of time. Urban students were more concerned with body image. The nutrients which showed a lower mean intake as percentile of RDA were Ca, iron, vit A an Vit B$_2$ and most nutrient intakes of urban students were significantly higher compared to those of rural students. These results indicate that nutrient intakes in the female middle school students were considerably lower than the RDA. Also they had undesirable food habits and lower self-satisfaction with their body image, There were significant differences in the mean MCV, TIBC and serum ferritin between urban and rural area subjects. Mean Hb, Hct, MCH, MCHC and TS, bowaver, were not significantly different. Prevalence of iron deficiency greatly varied by indices from urban(11.5%) and rural (8.7%) when judged by Hb to urban(23.1) and rural (23.3%) by serum ferrition. Therefore, proper nutrition education is required for good nutrition desirable food habits, weight control, and guidance for iron deficiency in anemic female of adolescents.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2007

This study purposed to examine elderly welfare facilities by type, to analyze their local variations, and ultimately to contribute to the expansion of elderly welfare infrastructure. The results are expected to help inspect elderly welfare infrastructure for providing the aged with social services before the execution of 'the insurance for elderly long term care' and establish welfare facilities by area in the future. For these purposes, we used the national data "The Current State of Elderly Welfare Facilities in 2007" produced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. We digitized elderly welfare facilities in 163 cities and counties by type and analyzed them by area. We also examined the differences in the local distribution of representative elderly welfare facilities such as elderly welfare centers, home based facilities (home helper centers), asylums for the aged and elderly care facilities in 16 cities and provinces. Furthermore, we analyzed differences and problems in their local distribution urban areas, mixed areas of urban and rural communities, and rural areas. In addition, we studied the current state of institutionalized care and home based care, which are two major directions of current elderly welfare policies, based on the local distribution of facilities and analyzed differences in the trends according to area. According to these results, the urban had more home based care facilities than the rural. However, the rural had more institutionalized care facilities than urban. Also, each local self-governing body showed unique characteristics. Therefore, these results suggest that we need to establish elderly welfare policies based on the distribution of facility types by area.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.592-603
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• 2001

Seasonal variations of nutrient intake ware evaluated through a 3-day dietary records in 196 Korean adolescents(86 males, 108 females) aged 13 - 15 years and living in urban and rural areas of Chungnam. The seasonal differences of nutrient intake were tested by repealed measure ANOVA. Comparing nutrient intakes among flour seasons using repealed measure ANOVA, mean values of daily intakes were higher in winter and autumn for most nutrients, and were the lowest in summer in the urban areas and in spring in rural areas. Girls recieved the largest amount of nutrients, except Ca and vitamin $B_12$, in winter and the lowest amount in summer, while in boys significant differences were not observed among the four seasons for meet nutrients, except fats, Mg, and vitamin E. Interestingly, the seasonal differences for many nutrients were more evident in rural areas than in urban areas. Vitamin A intake in urban areas was higher in winter and spring, while in rural oreas, in summer. Mean values of daily intakes as a percent of the RDA throughout the year in boys and girls ware 82.2% and 84.2% for energy and 88.9% and 82.7% for protein, respectively. Ca and vitamin A intakes were as low as 32.4% and 24.2% of the RDA in boys and 39.7% and 30.6% in girls. Intakes of Fe, Zn, folic acid and vitamin B$_{12}$ ranged from 40 - 60% of the RDA. The nutrients which showed the largest seasonal difference in the percent of RDA were vitamin E in boys and vitamin C, vitamin E, and Fe in girls. The index of nutritional quality(INQ) for Fe was significantly lower in autumn in both genders. The INQ for vitamin C in girls of both areas was much higher in winter. Annual mean adequacy ratio(MAR), an index of overall nutritional quality, ranged from 0.57 - 0.69, which was higher in winter than in other seasons. Conclusively, nutrient intakes of Korean adolescents showed seasonal variations, particularly in girls and in rural area. Thus, seasonal variations should be considered in the assessing nutritional status, particularly ill the rural areas of Korea.a.