• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 1999

Since 1993, the number of vivax malaria cases has increased every year in the northern part of the Republic of Korea (ROK). This study was designed to characterize factors related to the reemergence of malaria in the ROK. A total of 21 cases diagnosed in 1993 and 1994 distributed sporadically in the narrow zone along the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Of total 317 civilian inhabitant cases reported in 1994-1997, 287 cases were studied and 80.8% of them resided within 10km from the southern border of the DMZ. The frequency distribution of anti-Plasmodium vivax antibody titers using indirect fluorescent antibody test was compared in three villages in relation with distance from the DMZ. The number of inhabitants with high antibody titers was larger in the village nearest to the border than that in more distant villages. The present results highly suggested that the reemerging vivax malaria start in the border area, most possibly caused by infected mosquitoes which flew across the border. This pattern of transmission repeated year after year.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.233-259
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to find out about how are physical health, economical states and social relationships of women elderly living alone in an island. The measurement variables are subjective health status, satisfaction of life and a feeling of depression through Activities of Daily Life, social supports, social network and social relationship. First, the ADLs of the aged women living alone in the island are that can't do themselves 23.4%, and need to other's help on their walking 23.4%, bathing 6.5%, and going out 10.3%. Second, them answered that is very shortage or shortage with living expenses 46.8%. Average income in a month is under 200thousands won are account for 32% in a rural and 32.4% in an urban but the aged women living alone in an island are account for 35.1%. comparing with that they are living under the absolute poor with a small income less than 300thousands won. Third, social relationships of the aged women living alone in the island are living with an offspring in a same region 50.6%, a neighboring village 11.7%, and living with a relation in same region. At this study differs from other studies are about studying to be compared aged people between rural and urban area. This study is researched comprehensively about more fragility people.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Background: Green tobacco sickness (GTS), an occupational disease in tobacco harvesters, is a form of acute nicotine intoxication by nicotine absorption through the skin from the wet green tobacco plant. We carried out a questionnaire survey and measured cotinine concentration, the metabolic product of nicotine, to determine the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of GTS in Korean tobacco harvesters. Methods: We measured cotinine concentrations, and administered a questionnaire survey to tobacco harvesters in Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. We repeatedly measured urine cotinine concentration five times with a questionnaire survey. Results: Cotinine concentration at dawn was significantly higher than that at other times; it was significantly lower during the nonharvesting period than during the harvesting period. However, little change in cotinine concentration was detected in the daytime during the harvesting period. Study participants included 20 men and 20 women. The prevalence of GTS was 37.5% and was significantly higher in women than in men (55.0% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.01). GTS incidence according to number of workdays was 3.4 occurrences/100 person days. Conclusion: In this study, nicotine exposure and metabolism were experimentally determined from the time of cotinine exposure, and biological monitoring was performed in each season. In the future, this information may be valuable for medical decision-making in GTS prevention.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2020

Belitung district in Bangka-Belitung Province, Indonesia with a population of 0.27 million is endemic for Brugia malayi and 5 rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) were completed by 2010. Based on the results of 3 transmission assessment surveys (TAS), the district is declared as achieving elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in 2017. The findings of an independent survey conducted by the National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD) in the same year showed microfilaria (Mf) prevalence of 1.3% in this district. In 2019, NIHRD conducted microfilaria survey in 2 villages in Belitung district. Screening of 311 and 360 individuals in Lasar and Suak Gual villages showed Mf prevalence of 5.1% and 2.2% with mean Mf density of 120 and 354 mf/ml in the respective villages. Mf prevalence was significantly higher among farmers and fishermen compared to others and the gender specific difference was not significant. The results of a questionnaire based interview showed that 62.4% of the respondents reported to have participated in MDA in Lasar while it was 57.7% in Suak Gual village. About 42% of the Mf positive cases did not participate in MDA. Environmental surveys identified many swampy areas supporting the breeding of Mansonia vector species. Persistence of infection is evident and in the event of successful TAS3 it is necessary to monitor the situation and plan for focal MDA. Appropriate surveillance strategies including xenomonitoring in post-MDA situations need to be developed to prevent resurgence of infection. Possible role of animal reservoirs is discussed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.192-200
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• 2017

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to analyze visitors' food needs and identify the Push-Pull factor in Jeonju Hanok Village. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on previous research to survey Korean adults who visited Jeonju city. A total of 580 questionnaires were used for the analysis. Results: Most of the subjects who visited Jeonju Hanok Village had food purchase experiences in Jeonju Hanok Village (96.4%). 'Traditional Korean food (26.5%)' was the most purchased food, followed by 'foreign food (25.8%)' and 'Korean food combined with foreign food (16.8%)'. Satisfaction of food purchases (3.35 points) was higher than average. The primary reason for satisfaction was 'the food is delicious (23.0%)', and the reason for dissatisfaction was 'the food is expensive (48.1%)'. In the push and pull factor analysis for identifying visit motivation, 'local food seeking', 'experience seeking', 'relaxation seeking', and 'friendship seeking' were push factors while 'traditional culture', 'facility convenience', 'experience activity', and 'food experience' were pull factors. There was a significant correlation between the push and pull factors. Regression analysis showed that all push factors influenced satisfaction. However, among pull factors, only 'food experience' and 'traditional culture' influenced satisfaction. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study indicates that food-related factors are destination characteristics (Pull factor) influencing intrinsic visit motivation (Push factor) and satisfaction. It is necessary to develop various food tourism products to satisfy visitors' needs and continuous visits in Jeonju Hanok Village. This study suggests the importance of research on food factors and provides useful basic data to establish positioning strategies for food cultural development in Jeonju Hanok Village.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2010

Objectives: On December 7, 2007, the Hebei Spirit oil tanker spilled out 12,547 kl of crude oil on the Yellow Sea 10 km away from the cost of Taean Province, Korea. As the coastline has been contaminated, local residents have been exposed to crude oil. Because the residents were showing many symptoms, we investigated the acute health effects of this oil spill on them. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of the heavy and moderately oil soaked area in Taean and the lightly oil soaked area in Seocheon. Ten seashore villages were selected from each area, and 10 male and female adults were selected from each village. We interviewed the subjects using a structured questionnaire on the characteristics of residents, the cleanup activities, the perception of oil hazard, depression and anxiety, and the physical symptoms. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking, the perception of oil hazard and anxiousness. Results: The more highly contaminated the area, the more likely it was for residents to be engaged in cleanup activities and have a greater chance of exposure to oil. The indexes of anxiety and depression were higher in the heavy and moderately oil soaked areas. The increased risks of headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, tingling of limb, hot flushing, sore throat, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, itchy skin, rash, and sore eyes were significant. Conclusions: The results suggest that exposure to crude oil is associated with various acute physical symptoms. Long-term investigation is required to monitor the residents' health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-38
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• 1978

A survey was made with regard to understanding attitude and practical use of modern and traditional methods of health care in a rural village with 742 inhabitants which comes under one of the whole three types of Korean rural community, to find out the following facts. 1. Among the five types of health-care given, the most understood, chosen and used one was the doctor followed next by pharmacy and continually herb doctor, folkways method, shamanistic treatment; the last shown method was principally chosen to use by only one among 139 housewives as respondants available, 2. Between herb medicine and folkways method of care, the former was more relief upon than the latter while the latter was more used than the former, seemingly because of relative low cast of the latter. 3. A considerable part of those who mainly used the doctor or pharmacy also used herb doctor or folkways care； modern and traditional care methods coexisted in the pertaining community. 4. Nearly all of the respondants ware, reasonably, aware of effectiveness of modern types of health-care; but, at the same time, more than a half of them had a positive attitude towards traditional method as well. 5, On the whole, the respondants made a distinction between traditional health-care methods and shamanism, regarding the latter as ineffective. 6. The result hints that it would be desirable for health-care professionals to inquire into traditional methods of health-care with a view to being more acquainted with rural residents and so raising their use of services by experts. 7. It should be added that the results of this piece of study may have a general significance only within those communities which shares the same socio-cultural background and characteristic of the surveyed one.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 1978

The mobile medical service has been operated for many years by a number of medical schools and hospitals as a most convenient means of medical service delivery to the people residing in such area where the geographical and socioeconomic conditions are not good enough to enjoy modern medical care. Despite of official appraisal showing off simply with numbers of outpatients treated and medical persons participated, however, as well recognized, the capability (in respect of budget, equipment and time) of those mobile medical teams is so limitted that it often discourages the recipients as well as medical participants themselves. In the midst of rising need to secure medical service of good quality to all parts of the country, and of developing concept of primary health care system, authors evaluated the effectiveness of and problems associated with mobile medical servies program through the community diagnosis of a village (Opo-myun, Kwangju-gun) to obtain the information which may be halpful for future improvement. 1. Owing to the nationwide Sae-Maul movement powerfully practiced during last several years, living environment of farm villages generally and remarkably improved including houses, water supply and wastes disposal etc. Neverthless, due to limitations in budget time and lack of knowledge (probably the most important), these improvements tend to keep up appearances only and are far from the goal which may being practical benefit in promoting the health of the community. 2. As a result of intensive population policy led by the government since 1962, there has been considerable advances in understanding and the rate of practicing family planning through out the villages and yet, one should see many things, especially education, to be done. Fifty eight per cent of mothers have not received prenatal check and the care for most (72%) delivery was offered by laymen at home. 3. Approximately seven per cent of the population was reported to have chronic illness but since only a few (practically none) of the people has had physical check up by doctors, the actual prevalence of chronic diseases may reach many times of the reported. The same fact was observed also in prevalence of tuberculosis; the patients registered at local health center totaled 31 comprising only 0.51% while the numbers in two neighboring villages (designated as demonstration area of tuberculosis control and mass examination was done recently) were 3.5 and 4.0% respectively. Prevalence rate of all dieseses and injuries expereinced during one month (July, 1977) was 15.8%. Only one tenth of those patients received treatment by physicians and one fifth was not treated at all. The situation was worse as for the chronic patients; 84% of all cases either have never been treated or discontinued therapy, and the main reasons were known to be financial difficulty and ignorance or indifference. 4. Among the patients treated by our mobile clinic, one third was chronic cases and 45% of all patients, by the opinion of doctors attended, were those who may be treated by specially trained nurses or other paramedics (objects of primary care). Besides, 20% of the cases required professional managements of level beyond the mobile team's capability and in this sense one may conclude that the effectiveness (performance) of present mobile medical team is quite limitted. According to above findings, the authors would like to suggest following for mobile medical service and overall medicare program for the people living in remote country side. 1. Establishment of primary health care system secured with effective communication and evacuation (between villages and local medical center) measures. 2. Nationwide enforcement of medical insurance system. 3. Simple outpatient care which now constitutes the main part of the most mobile medical services should largely be yielded up to primary health care unit of the village and the mobile team itself should be assigned on new and more urgent missions such as mass screening health examination of the villagers, health education with modern and effective audiovisual aids, professional training and consultant services for the primary health care organization.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.67-80
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• 2006

This study conducted research on the actual state of community-oriented services for elderly rural inhabitants and their desire related to them to develop a local community service network model suitable to the characteristics of rural longevity villages. The research was conducted on 906 elderly people over 65 living in 20 rural longevity villages through questionnaires assessing filming and economy, economic activity, health care, learning and leisure activities as well as asking their wants and needs relative to local community services. As a result, it was found rural elderly people showed a high desire for local community services such as health, transportation and economy activity. In addition, they were mainly cultivating farm products as their economic activity and showed a high demand in the future as well. Most were found to take a walk in the healthcare field and showed a high demand for health examinations, health education, health consulting, hot spring bathing and basking in the woods. Respecting learning, social and leisure activities, they were mostly found to watch TV and do house chores, and showed a high desire for village environment repair, traditional farm music, visiting and tourism. With the above results, it is expected that the desire of rural elderly for such services can be satisfied, and the development of a local community service network model suitable to the characteristic of a local community is recommended.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.142-149
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• 1977

To use basic data for health planning and evaluation of Kangwha community health project of Yonsei University, a study on death rates and causes of death were investigated in two townships (Naega and Sunwon Myuns) in Kangwha County from April 1, 1975 to March 31, 1977 All death was identified and reported by family health workers who are living in each village and 2 trained public health nurses confirmed the death. The causes of death were investigated by 2 public physicians. Total number of deaths for 2 years was 230 and the followings are brief summary of the study. 1. Age-adjusted crude death rates of study area were 8.69 per 1,000 population in 1975 and 7.18 per 1,000 population in 1976. Age-adjusted crude death rates for male were 9.18 in 1975 and 6.38 in 1976 and for female were 8.33 and 7.80 per 1,000 population 2. Age specific death rate curves by year and sex showed 'U' shapes. 3. Infant and neonatal death rates were 30.08 and 22.56 per 1,000 live births in 1975, and the rates in 1976 were 18.18 and 13.64. 4. The most common cause of death was cerebrovascular disease and average cause specific death rate for the disease was 215.5 per 100,000 population. 5. Four leading causes of death were non-infectious origin; cerebrovascular disease, malignant neoplasms, senility and suicide. Pulmonary tubeculosis and pneumonia occupied 5th and 9th causes of death. 6. Stomach cancer and hepatoma occupied 61.3% of total death due to malignant neoplasms. 7. Most frequent cause of neonatal death was birth injury. Two deaths due to tetanus were found in 1975, but no death due to this disease was found in 1976. 8. About half of deceased received care from physician before death.