OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to estimate the incidence trend of head injury and the mortality based on traffic accident statistics and to investigate the impacts of rapid industrialization and economic growth on epidemiology of head injury in Korea over the period 1970-2012 including both pre-industrialized and post-industrialized stages. METHODS: We collected data of head injury estimated from traffic accident statistics and seven hospital based reports to see incidence trends between 1970 and 2012. We also investigated the population structure and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of Korea over the same period. The age specific data were investigated from 1992 to 2012. RESULTS: The incidence of head injury gradually rose in the 1970s and the 1980s but stabilized until the 1990s with transient rise and then started to decline slowly in the 2000s. The mortality grew until 1991 but gradually declined ever since. However, the old age groups showed rather slight increase in both rates. The degree of decrease in the mortality has been more rapid than the incidence on head injury. CONCLUSION: In Korea during the low income stage, rapid industrialization cause considerable increase in the mortality and the incidence of head injury. During the high income stage, the incidence of head injury gradually declined and the mortality dropped more rapidly than the incidence due to preventive measures and satisfactory medical care. Nevertheless, the old age groups revealed rather slight increase in both rates owing to the large population structure and the declining birth rate.
Accidents, Traffic* ; Birth Rate ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Economic Development ; Epidemiology ; Head* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Industrial Development

Due to rapid industrialization and economic development, the occupational diseases have appeared as one of the social problems in Korea. Up until now little has been known about the prevalence rate, predisposing factor and symptomatology the occupational disease due to localized vibration in Korea. The researcher intends to investigate the prevalence rate and affecting factors of the occupational disease due to localized vibration among rock-drillers in the anthracite mines. A total of 135 rock-drillers were interviewed and examined from May 15th to 31th, 1980. The results were revealed as follows; 1. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome among rock-drillers was 12.6%. 2. The latent period of the vibration syndrome was 6.8% years. 3. The prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. 4. With the increase of total vibration exposure time, the prevalence rate of the vibration syndrome increased also. 5. The average vibration sensation threshold was high (6.4dB) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (-0.6dB) in stage 0. 6. The average pain sensation threshold was high (4.4g) in stage 1 of the vibration syndrome and low (2.5g) in stage 0.
Causality ; Coal* ; Economic Development ; Korea ; Mining* ; Occupational Diseases ; Prevalence* ; Sensation ; Social Problems ; Vibration* ; Industrial Development

Due to rapid industrialization and economic development since 1970's, Seoul has become known as one of the most heavily polluted cities in the world. This is especially because of its air pollution. This study was conducted to characterize the cancer risk from organic pollutants in the suspended particulates of Seoul. Extractable organic matter(EOM)and PAHs in Shinchon, a major traffic area, were measured monthly in two periods of Aug. 1987-Sep. 1988, and Sep. 1990-Aug. 1991. While the differences both of EOM and benzo(a)pyrene concentrations between these two periods were not significant(P>0.05), the differences between heating and non-heating seasons were significant(P<0.01). The estimated mean concentrations of EOM and benzo(a)pyrene in fine particles in non-heating season were 3.98 microgram/m3 and 0.51ng/m3 respectively, and in heating season were 6.75 microgram/m3 and 2.96 ng/m3 respectively, in these two periods combined. The calculated risk from EOM was compared with that from benzo(a)pyrene and also these values were compared with the level of acceptable risk.
Air Pollution ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; Economic Development ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; Industrial Development

OBJECTIVES: Rapid economic growth and industrial development in South Korea have led to a great change in dietary patterns, and the use of convenience foods has continuously increased. This study was performed to evaluate the energy and nutrient contents of convenience foods at convenience stores near the universities as a meal. METHODS: Data was collected by visiting 22 convenience stores near some universities in Chungbuk and Seoul and by checking nutrition labels on convenience foods at the stores. Data of a total of 338 food items were collected, and divided into five groups according to the food categories; rice products (n=156), noodles (n=101), burger/sandwiches (n=62), Tteokbokkis (n=11), and dumplings (n=8). Further, rice products, noodles, and burger/sandwiches were divided into subcategories. RESULTS: The proportion of calories from carbohydrates was high in the rice products and tteokbokki, while the rate of calories from fat was high in burger/sandwiches and dumplings. Among the rice products, the proportion of carbohydrate calories was high in a one-dish food, rice with soup, and triangular kimbap, while the proportion of calories from fat in lunch boxes was high. In the noodles category, ramyeon and spaghetti had a high percentage of fat calories, while udong had a high percentage of carbohydrate calories. The ratio of the calorie content in relation to the KDRIs for adults aged 19-29 years, lunch boxes provided about 1/3 of daily required energy. However, the amount of calories as one meal was not enough for other types of rice products except for lunch boxes. Ramyeon was high in calories, fat, and sodium, but low in protein content. The burger/sandwiches had a high percentage of fat and sodium. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed several nutritional limitations of convenience meals in convenience stores according to the type of food. Therefore, college students should limit excessive intake of convenience meals on a regular basis in order to avoid unhealthy food intake patterns. Our results demonstrate the need for educating college students with regard to checking nutrition labels when choosing convenience meals in order to facilitate the selection of food items that contribute to a balanced diet.
Adult ; Carbohydrates ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Diet ; Eating ; Economic Development ; Fast Foods ; Humans ; Industrial Development ; Korea ; Lunch ; Meals* ; Seoul ; Sodium

South Korea and Taiwan have had similar experiences of economic development in the post-war era. The two societies have also successfully overcome the threat of liver cancer by using mass hepatitis B vaccinations. However, to reach their current states, they followed different directions, and experienced differing effects on their national health governance systems. In South Korea, vaccine production occurred prior to effectively introducing immunization programs. In contrast, Taiwan established an effective immunization program first. However, industrialization of vaccines against hepatitis B has failed. Taiwan has to import vaccines for domestic use. This article provides a contextual overview on the different methods South Korea and Taiwan have used to arrive at their modern status of hepatitis B immunization.
Economic Development ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Immunization ; Immunization Programs ; Liver Neoplasms ; Republic of Korea ; Taiwan ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Industrial Development

The study of public health systems is an important, but very difficult task. The concept and functions of public health systems are influenced by the views, interests, and influence of the various stakeholders belonging to public health systems and broader social, economic, political, and environmental sectors. To define public health system with conceptual clarification, we must take into account the dynamic and complex aspect of the public health system. This paper reviews health systems and public health systems literature to suggest the concept, goals, and functions of public health systems. In addition, this paper recognizes some challenges, such as leadership and management, resource development, economic support, and service delivery to strengthen public health systems for improving health and well-being of population.
Economic Development ; Leadership ; Public Health* ; Staff Development

On May 9th 2017, the 19th presidential election was held. This election was historically significant because of the impeachment of the former president. This election was held in a relatively short period of time, unlike the normal presidential elections. Therefore, there was not enough time to deliberate pledges for candidates and review pledges for the people. South Korea has suffered from many healthcare problems associated with low-birth rate, population aging, and low economic growth rate. In this paper, we compared the ‘10 main pledge’ of the major five candidates of the 19th presidential election and discussed focusing on the healthcare issue. As a result of comparing the 10 main pledge of the major candidates, it was difficult to find healthcare parts whereas there were lots of welfare parts existed. We need enough time to review and discuss pledges in the next election.
Aging ; Delivery of Health Care ; Economic Development ; Korea

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of the economic growth and unemployment rates on the suicide rate in Korea, between 1983 and 2000, using a time-series regression model. The purpose of this study was to model and test the magnitude of the rate of suicide, with the Korean unemployment rate and GDP. METHODS: Using suicide rate per 100, 000 Koreans and the unemployment rates between 1983 and 2000, as published by the Korea National Statistical Office, and the rate of fluctuation of the Korean GDP (Gross Domestic Product), as provided by the Bank of Korea, as an index of the economic growth rate, a time-series regression analysis, with a first-order autoregressive regression model, was performed. RESULTS: An 81.5% of the variability in the suicide rate was explained by GDP, and 82.6% of that was explained by the unemployment rate. It was also observed that the GDP negatively correlated with the suicide rate, while the unemployment and suicide rates were positively correlated. For subjects aged over 20, both the GDP and unemployment rate were found to be a significant factors in explaining suicide rates, with coefficients of determination of 86.5 and 87.9%, respectively. For subjects aged under 20, however, only the GDP was found to be a significant factor in explaning suicide rates (the coeficient of determination is 38.4%). CONCLUSION: It was found that the suicide rate was closely related to the National's economic status of Korea, which is similar to the results found in studies in other countries. We expected, therefore, that this study could be used as the basis for further suicide-related studies.
Economic Development* ; Guanosine Diphosphate ; Korea* ; Suicide* ; Unemployment*

The Asia Pacific region is one of the most vibrant and diverse geographical regions in the world. Therefore, growing health informatics is particularly challenging given the wide cultural, political and socio-economic diversity among countries in the region. But the diversity also presents test-bed opportunities for wide-ranging health informatics applications from telemedicine to clinical management systems and nationwide use of healthcare smart cards. Many of the projects are highly correlated with socio-economic development and national vision and commitment. Since 1994, the Asia Pacific Association for Medical Informatics (APAMI) has been instrumental in promoting health informatics awareness and development by facilitating regional and international networking. In the coming years, health informatics development in the Asia Pacific is expected to come of age given the presence of influential factors such as strong economic growth, rapid info-communication structural development and transformation of national healthcare systems and deliveries to leverage on high technology-based economies.
Asia* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Economic Development ; Informatics* ; Medical Informatics ; Telemedicine

This paper deals with secular trend of height spanning 1979 to 2010 and also morphological growth patterns for Korean. It also investigates the comparison of the growth pattern between male and female based on the anthropometric data samples of KATS taken from the 1979 to 2010 surveys. The great rates of change in height occurred during 1979-1997 with 2-3 cm increase in both sexes at each surveys. After 1997 the change rate of height while increasing is remained within less than 1 cm till 2010 survey. This pattern is consistent with recent Korean cultural emphasis on health and physical fitness according to the economic development. The causes of the observed trends, insofar as they have been identified, are related to cultural processes.
Anthropometry ; Economic Development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Fitness ; Statistics as Topic