OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated dietary intakes of total fat and fatty acids among the Korean adult population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the 2016–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. A total of 10,772 subjects aged ≥19 y for which dietary data were available were selected. Data pertaining to energy and nutrient intakes were obtained by a 24-h recall method. Total fat and fatty acids intakes were evaluated based on the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR) of 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans by sex and age groups. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex sampling design effect and sampling weights. RESULTS: The mean intakes of energy and total fat were 1,952 kcal (95% CI: 1928–1977) and 46.1 g (45.2–47.1), respectively, and about 21% of the energy was obtained from fat in this study population (21.7% in men and 20.2% in women). The mean percentages of energy from saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 6.4%, 6.7%, and 5.2%, respectively. About 18% of adults exceeded the AMDR for fat (30% of energy), whereas 37.6% exceeded the AMDR for saturated fatty acids (7% of energy). The proportions of subjects who consumed more than the AMDR for fat and saturated fatty acids decreased across age groups in both sexes. Among young adults (19–29 y), about 63% of the subjects obtained ≥7% of their energy from saturated fatty acids. About 61% of older adults obtained less than 15% of their energy from total fat. CONCLUSIONS: Increased intake of fat energy was prominent in saturated fatty acids. Our findings suggest current information on total fat and fatty acids intakes in Korean adults and can be used to provide dietary guidelines for the improvement of public health.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dietary Fats ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Methods ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Public Health ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Weights and Measures ; Young Adult

A national nutrition surveillance system is an essential instrument for the detection of nutrition and nutrition-related health problems that can assist on policy implementation. The role of nutritional surveillance in detecting trends of nutritional problems and predicting their risks has become more important as its strong scientifically based method and evidences may provide insights on chronic disease risks. In this review, we attempted to identify dietary issues of Korean cardiometabolic disease (CMD) based on the national nutrition surveillance system and addressed gaps and limitations in the system. In addition, an alternative way on how the system can overcome these problems with the view of ultimately improving public health in Korea was discussed.
Chronic Disease ; Korea* ; Methods ; Nutrition Policy ; Public Health

The purposes of this study were to investigate the perception of community nutrition programs and the conditions to carry them out, for 32 directors of health centers where public health nutritionists are not employed. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. Nutrition intervention programs were not carried out actively except those for infants but the health center directors strongly felt the necessity of carrying out various nutrition programs. The factors that affect the selecting and priotizing of nutrition programs were the need of community residents, the perception of the local congressmen, and the head of the local government. The most urgent and important problem to be solved in order to intervene nutrition programs was employing public health nutritionists on a tenure basis. Other were securing necessary revenue, precise guidance, political support, hardwares, etc. These results showed the importance of employing public health nutritionists for intervening appropriate nutrition programs and improving the perception of nutrition services for health center directors, local congressmen and personnels in charge of formulating nutrition policies.
Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Local Government ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritionists* ; Public Health*

The purpose of this study is to offer information related to recommended dietary allowances for young children and food guidelines for preschool children in Sweden. Sweden, located in Europe, is the most developed country for young child care system. Swedish nutrition policy background, Swedish recommended dietary allowances for young children, and food guidelines of early childhood education center in Sweden were used. The number of Swedish child care centers increased from 70,000 in 1970 to 700,000 in 2000. The Swedish Institute of Public Health promoted children's indoor and outdoor activity. The aim of the Swedish public health contains children's safety, good food habits, and eating food safely. Swedish Food Administration made recommended dietary allowance and food guidelines for children care centers. The aim of food guidelines was to increase energy, calcium, iron, and dietary fiber intake. Swedish RDA contains minimum and maximum intake as well as mean intake for macro and micro nutrients. The fat intake ratio of energy is increased for younger children. For preschool children, the food guideline is determined by dietary allowances for breakfast, lunch, and snack respectively. Food guideline contains meal time schedule, menu for each meal using food model, amount of food for age group, and recommended dietary allowance for each meal. It is recommended for Korean early childhood education center: 1) Korean RDA for young children should be made range of intake, minimum and maximum intake. 2) Food guideline should be make for Korean child care center. 3) Korean child care centers should offer an afternoon snack twice for children who retun home late. 4) Nutrition education program for preschool teachers should be developed for children's good eating habits and health promotion.
Appointments and Schedules ; Breakfast ; Calcium ; Child Care ; Child* ; Child, Preschool* ; Developed Countries ; Dietary Fiber ; Eating ; Education ; Europe ; Food Habits ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Iron ; Lunch ; Meals ; Nutrition Policy ; Public Health ; Recommended Dietary Allowances* ; Snacks ; Sweden*

Background. The Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers was enacted in 1992 to address health workers' welfare. However, the implementation of this act was reportedly inconsistent among local government units (LGUs). Objectives. This study was conducted to determine the implementation status of provisions under the law among LGUs. Methods. This is a descriptive case study employing mixed methods. The quantitative data were derived from LGU scorecards, and the qualitative data were obtained from focus group discussions and key informant interviews of mayors, municipal health officers, and budget officers. Results. A total of 1,557 LGU scorecards with 2017 data showed that more than half (52.0%) of LGUs do not provide the full benefits of hazard pay, subsistence allowance, and laundry allowance. Disaggregation by income class showed that the provision of benefits is higher among LGUs with higher income classes (56.10%) compared to LGUs of lower-income classes (38.73%), and this translates to a correlation of income class with the provision of benefits (χ2=59.0, p<0.001). Factors influencing the provision of benefits include the political will of the mayor, the active role of municipal health staff to lobby for their rights, the limited resources of the LGU, the personnel services budget ceiling, the lack of enforcement of the law, and the limiting specifications of the law. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that the Magna Carta benefits for public health workers in municipalities and cities are inadequately implemented. Local governments must enforce public health workers' rights and benefits, but the national government should aid and ensure its unvarying implementation.
Humans ; Public Health ; Public Policy ; Health Policy

Quantitative assessments of the health status of a population are essential to make decisions and set priorities in the field of public health. Changing epidemiologic patterns increase the demand for comprehensive estimates of population health across the full health spectrum, including non-communicable diseases and injuries. Burden of disease (BoD) analysis has helped meet this need. With the success of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, the BoD technique has become predominantly associated with the GBD approach and its methodology using disability-adjusted life year (DALY) has been rapidly disseminated and generally accepted over the last several years. The first Korean BoD study using the DALY metric was presented in 2002. Various BoD studies have since been conducted, but the DALY concept has remained primarily academic and has not yet been actively utilized in the health policy arena. Here, we review the DALY metric and population-based Korean BoD studies using national health data, with the intent of increasing the understanding of their value and their potential role in strengthening future assessments of the Korean population’s health status.
Health Policy ; Korea* ; Public Health

China ; Health Policy ; Public Health

Summary of health tasks in past years. The premises and major challegenes with health task in first years of 21st century. Systemic opinions about health task and 5 major policies is needed to currently focus in realization
Delivery of Health Care ; Public Policy

Evaluation of the implementation of the equitableness policy in health care service at the 20 villages of Son La, Nghe An, Soc Trang and Binh Phuoc in 2004. The results: the equitableness policy in the health care service has been well implemented by the local governments including health care service and finance resulted in enhancing trust of the local people. Regulations and policies for the local health care staff have been well implemented by the local governments, especially after the occurrence of Decision 58, 131 and Circular Letter 08. However, some limitations, including: training, salary and duty subsidy regulations have not been well implemented in some medical stations, some positions in medical station have not appointed formally as pharmacological and traditional medicine’s nurse
Delivery of Health Care ; Public Policy

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is not confined to the historic and current asbestos mining areas, but rather quite commonly encountered in certain geological environments across the world. The middle-west side of the Korean Peninsula (Chungnam province) has been composed of numerous talc and asbestos ore deposits derived from serpentine and dolomite. These areas have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma and pleural plaques as a result of non-occupational "neighborhood" exposure and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) exposure. However, asbestosis epidemics from environmental exposure were rare because asbestosis needs relatively high concentration of asbestos exposure. This review summarizes asbestosis epidemics which occurred in the residents who have lived past or current asbestos mining areas and natural in-place asbestos deposits (or asbestos-like mineral deposits) in the world, including Korean asbestosis endemics that occurred in Chungnam province, which has many historic asbestos mining. Also, this manuscript will describe effective public policies for managing NOA, minimizing potential hazards, and protecting public health from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos ; Asbestosis ; Calcium Carbonate ; Environmental Exposure ; Magnesium ; Mesothelioma ; Mining ; Public Health ; Public Policy ; Residence Characteristics ; Talc