BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of and the factors affecting constipation in elementary school students in urban and rural areas. METHODS: Study subjects were 585 grade 5 and 6 students. We conducted self-administered questionnaires during October, 2009. Outcome measure was the prevalence of constipation evaluated by the Rome III Diagnostic criteria for functional constipation. Independent variables were gender, grade, residence, mother's employment status, self-rated health status, number of family members, bowel movement habit, and health behavior (nutrition, exercise, and stress). RESULTS: The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that females, grade 5 students, those with working mothers, and those physically inactive reported having constipation significantly more often. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the female gender, increasing age, mother's employment status, and physical inactivity were risk factors for constipation in elementary school students. To improve bowel function in children, health education programs and school health promotion programs targeting healthy life habits should be implemented.
Child ; Constipation* ; Employment ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mothers ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; School Health Services ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether the maternal-fetal attachment is related to choose the rooming-in of postpartum women. METHOD: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The data was collected from April 1 to May 31, 2001. Subjects who had NSVD were 68 mothers who opted the rooming-in and 98 mothers who did not choose the rooming-in at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The research questionnaire consisted of 14 items on general characteristics, and 24 items on maternal fetal attachment developed by Cranley(1981). RESULT: 1. There was significant statistical difference in general characteristics between rooming-in and non rooming-in groups in prenatal class attendance, and husband attendance during the delivery. 2. There was significantly higher level of maternal fetal attachment score in the rooming-in group. 3. There was higher level of maternal fetal attachment score in the group which had participated in childbirth education than the group which didn't had participated. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that the maternal fetal attachment is identified as a significant factor choosing the rooming in for postpartum women. Therefore it is needed to increase maternal fetal attachment of pregnant women before making decision for whether they choose the rooming-in or non-rooming in after delivery.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Education ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Spouses

No abstract available.
Hydrocortisone* ; Prolactin*

PURPOSE: This study is to define the structural patterns of pregnancy motivation of married women. METHOD: Q-methodology was used on 110 statements collected from interviews with women and a literature review. 38 Q-samples were selected. The Q-samples were administerd to 30 randomized P-sample. RESULT: Data analysis of Q-type obtained by QUANL program shows three types of subjectivity in the perception of pregnancy motivation. Type 1, "Family-connection strengthening", Pregnancy motivation is characterized by the tendency to make home, to tie family member, to connect couple firmly. Type 2,"Self-satisfaction", Women of this type take pleasure and happiness from child rearing in terms of being a mother and having maternal affection. Type 3, "Self-centered", This type of pregnancy motivation puts on high emphasis on self achievement and they make a family planning suitable for the maternal role. CONCLUSION: The stronger was women's pregnancy motivation, the more positive were women's pregnancy experience and maternal role attainment. Therefore, When nurses take care of pregnancy women, they should understand the women's psycho-social aspects and then apply a program of nursing intervention to the pregnant women, It is necessary to continue to study on social and psychological problems related to pregnancy.
Child ; Child Rearing ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Happiness ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Motivation* ; Nursing ; Pleasure ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVE: Anxiolytics and antidepressants are commonly used to treat depressive disorders in pregnant women. Specific and clear evidence is required when managing pregnant patients with such medications to ensure safety. However, information provided by approval label information is insufficient and often different among many countries. By analyzing label information of approval label and other references, this study aims to show the limitations and suggest appropriate directions for retrieving safety information. METHODS: We selected five anxiolytics and eleven antidepressants, which belongs to Korea drug classification codes 117 (psychotropic agents). We chose four countries, Korea, the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom, Japan and collected safety information for pregnant women in label information. We evaluated the safety information based on recommendation level and evidence level. Then, kappa value and overall agreement were calculated using SAS 9.3. to assess data homogeneity. We further searched Reprotox and a textbook about contraindicated drugs in label information. RESULTS: Recommendation level and evidence level was different in each country. The number of commonly contraindicated drug in label information of four countries was none, and contraindicated drugs in labels were different respectively. Kappa value of evidence level between label information of Korea and Japan, the USA and Japan was 0.61, 0.43 respectively, corresponding to 'substantial agreement' and 'moderate agreement'. The overall agreement was 75%, 62.5% respectively. The information of label was different from that of other references, Reprotox and a textbook in terms of the clinical evidences and recommendation levels. CONCLUSION: Safety information of anxiolytics and antidepressants in label information needs to be updated on a regular basis both for health professionals and patients. With the implication of the inconsistent guidance for the safety information in pregnant women, reliable safety information in pregnant women would be needed.
Americas ; Anti-Anxiety Agents* ; Antidepressive Agents* ; Classification ; Depressive Disorder ; Female ; Great Britain ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Japan* ; Korea* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; United States

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the effect of an observation window (OW) at peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter sites on early detection of IV infiltration among hospitalized children. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study with history control group design. Participants were children who had IV infiltration after peripheral catheterization when hospitalized from January to May, 2014 and January to May, 2015 at a children's hospital located in Yangsan city, Korea. The 193 patients, who were hospitalized from January to May, 2014 formed the control group and did not have OW, and the 167 patients, who were hospitalized from January to May, 2015 formed the window group and had OW. Data were analyzed using χ²-test, independent samples t-test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: First stage IV infiltration was 39.5% for the window group and 25.9% for the control group, which was significantly different (p=.007). The likelihood of 2nd stage and above IV infiltration decreased by 44% in the window group, which was significantly different (p=.014). CONCLUSION: OW at the peripheral IV catheter site was found to be an effective measure in early recognition of IV infiltration. Considering the effect of OW, we recommend that nurses should make an OW with transparent dressing during stabilization of the IV catheter site in hospitalized children in clinical settings.
Bandages ; Catheterization, Peripheral ; Catheters* ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Observational Study ; Retrospective Studies

No Abstract available.
Academic Medical Centers* ; Infection Control*

PURPOSE: The study is designed to develop an educational CD-Program for prevention and control of obesity among primary school students. METHOD: The study is conducted from June 15, 2000 to April 15, 2002. Based on the course of program development suggested by Dick and Cray (1990), the study followed the planning, development, education and evaluation of a program. RESULT: The developed CD-Program consists 2 parts each for lower and higher grades of primary school students. The introduction part of the first trial for lower grade students uses quiz to encourage their motivations, the body proceeds with motion pictures and animations to trigger their interests. The introduction part of the second trial for the lower grades consists of remembering the exhibition lecture. The first trial for higher grades of primary school students builds on the contents of the low grades. Its body part, how to determine obesity and calculate ones own obesity, puts ones own weight and height in by the mouse. For the second trial of the higher grades, the body consists of life-style, diet, and regiments. CONCLUSION: The merits of this CD-Program are that to be possible an interaction between teachers and students.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of folic acid, vitamin B12 and homocysteine and C677T metylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in pregnant women. METHODS: DNA was extracted from whole blood of 177 pregnant women. All samples were genotyped for the C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RELP). Serum levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 were measured by high performance liquid chromatography for homocysteine, and radioassay for folate and vitamin B12. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine was higher in women with the T/T genotype than those with the C/T or the C/C genotype of the MTHFR gene (p<0.05). Serum homocysteine was negatively correlated with serum folate in all MTHFR genotypes (p<0.001). Serum homocysteine was increased in pregnant women with the T/T type of the MTHFR gene only when the serum folate fell below the median compared to those stayed above the median level (p<0.05). Serum folate was positively correlated with serum vitamin B12 in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Serum homocysteine varied significantly by the MTHFR genotype and the serum B vitamin status.
Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnant Women* ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The female sex hormones are thought to affect gastrointestinal function. However, the relationship between female sex hormone and gastrointestinal function has not been identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between constipation and hormonal changes in young women and to find the difference of colon transit time (CTT) across the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Two hundred and five students completed questionnaires. CTT as well as serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in 15 regularly menstruating volunteers. RESULTS: One hundred and six experienced changes in bowel habit across menstrual cycle. The mean estradiol concentration in the follicular phase was not significantly different from that in the luteal phase (118.0 +/- 28.8 pg/mL vs. 76.9 +/- 10.5 pg/mL, p > 0.05). The mean progesterone concentration in the luteal phase was significantly higher than that in the follicular phase (3.0 +/- 0.9 ng/mL vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4 ng/mL, p < 0.05). The mean CTT was not significantly delayed in the luteal phase than the time in the follicular phase (45 +/- 20 vs. 35 +/- 22 hours, p > 0.05). However, CTT was delayed at the progesterone peak in 11 of 15 (73.3%) women. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested a possible role of female sex hormones as a cause of constipation in young women.
Colon* ; Constipation ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Progesterone ; Volunteers ; Surveys and Questionnaires