This study aims to identify the regional distribution in the prevalence of dental caries and related multidimensional factors among 12-year-old children in Korea. Data from the 2018 Child Oral Health Survey were used to calculate the average DMFT index of 12-year-old children in metropolitan cities, and a multi-level regression model was applied to explain the regional distribution of dental caries prevalence and related factors. Factors were divided into two levels by administrative structure. This study finds a significant regional difference in the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old Korean children across metropolitan cities. Multilevel analysis showed that districtlevel factors (average number of pit and fissure-sealed permanent teeth, dental treatment demand rate, preventive treatment rate, sex ratio, and number of dentists per 100,000 people) and metropolitan-level factors (intakes of cariogenic beverages and number of pediatric dental hospitals and clinics per 100,000 people) had a significant effect on dental caries prevalence (p < 0.05). Individual characteristics and local socio-environmental factors influence the prevalence of dental caries. Especially considering the strong dependence on preventive treatment and accessibility to dental care services, it is necessary to provide adequate preventive treatment and expand health care resources in high-risk areas of dental caries.

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence implicates an association between ambient air pollution and impaired reproductive potential of human. Our study aimed to assess the association between air pollution and ovarian reserve in young, infertile women. METHODS: Our study included 2276 Korean women who attended a single fertility center in 2016-2018. Women's exposure to air pollution was assessed using concentrations of particulate matter (PM RESULTS: The mean age was 36.6 ± 4.2 years and AMH level was 3.3 ± 3.1 ng/mL in the study population. Average AMH ratio was 0.8 ± 0.7 and low AMH was observed in 10.3% of women (n=235). The average concentration of six air pollutants was not different between the normal ovarian reserve and low AMH groups for all averaging periods. In multivariable models, an interquartile range (IQR)-increase in 1 month-average PM CONCLUSIONS In a cohort of infertile Korean women, there was a suggestive evidence of the negative association between ambient PM concentration and ovarian reserve, highlighting the potential adverse impact of air pollution on women's fertility.
Adult ; Air Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/etiology* ; Ovarian Reserve/physiology* ; Republic of Korea