In recent decades it has been proved that the success or failure of family planning program in developing countries has tremendous impact on the improvement of health, welfare, as well as the general socio-economic development. Therefore it is worth giving a review of family planning in Korea during the last two decades. We are happy to credit the voluntary leaders, particular1y from the public health sector of universities, who played a key pioneering role in the initiation of the organized effort and for the continued leadership in the development of the national program. The organization of 17,000 village level family planning mothers' clubs in 1968 is one of the most outstanding innovative achievements. Despite such long standing problems as very poor morale of the family planning workers, poor national health care network, and stubborn preference for boys, Korea has been fairly successful in achieving the demographic objectives by reducing the total fertility rate from 6.0 in 1960 to 2.7 in 1968, and by increasing the rate of family planning practice from 9% in 1964 to 49% in 1978.
Contraception/methods ; Family Planning/trends* ; Human ; Korea ; Population Control ; Population Density ; Voluntary Health Agencies

No abstract available.
Adult ; Family Planning* ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Legislation, Medical ; Male ; Population Control ; Voluntary Health Agencies

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence and metabolic profiles of glucose tolerance categories according to World Health Organization(WHO) and 1997 American Diabetes Association(ADA) fasting criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose metabolism in the Korean population. METHODS: 2251 subjects without previous history of diabetes, who participated in the Yonchon diabetes epidemiology survey in 1993, were classified according to both criteria. The prevalence of glucose tolerance categories and the agreement across all categories of glucose tolerance were calculated. Metabolic characteristics of different glucose tolerance categories were compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose(IFG) according to ADA fasting criteria was similar to those of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance(IGT) according to WHO criteria, respectively. However, 35.5+ACU- of the subjects who were diagnosed as diabetes by WHO criteria were reclassified as either IFG or normal fasting glucose (NFG), and 38.5+ACU- of diabetic patients according to ADA fasting criteria were IGT or normal glucose tolerance (NGT) by WHO criteria. Only 31.3+ACU- of IGT subjects remained as IFG and 62.1+ACU- were reclassified as NFG. Similarly, 69.4+ACU- of IFG subjects were NGT by WHO criteria. The agreement between the two criteria was poor (K +AD0- 0.31). Discordant diabetes groups had higher WHR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels than concordant non-diabetes group. Non-diabetes(WHO)/diabetes(ADA) group had higher WHR than diabetes (WHO)/non-diabetes(ADA) group. There were no differences in other metabolic characteristics between the two discordant diabetes groups. IGT/NFG and NGT/IFG group showed higher BMI, WHR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels than NGT/NFG group. Metabolic characteristics of IGT/NFG group were not different from those of NGT/IFG group except IGT/NFG subjects were older than NGT/IFG subjects. CONCLUSION: The agreement between WHO and ADA fasting criteria was poor. ADA fasting criteria can detect new diabetic patients and subjects with impaired glucose metabolism who are not classified as diabetes or IGT by WHO criteria. However, a substantial number of subjects, who may have increased cardiovascular risk and/or increased risk for the development of diabetes and its complication, will be missed when using ADA fasting criteria.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose/analysis+ACo- ; Comparative Study ; Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology+ACo- ; Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis+ACo- ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Population Surveillance ; Prevalence ; Probability ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; United States ; Voluntary Health Agencies ; World Health Organization

The Korea Association of Health Promotion and Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), and Taiwan's Chinese Foundation of Health all originated from parasite control organizations. Currently these organizations hold no apparent relations to parasite control activities. However, many of the senior leaderships of these organizations including presidents, have parasitology as their background. Kunii Chojiro (the founder of Japan Association of Parasite Control (JAPC) and JOICFP) explained it as “it all started from worms.” In 1949, Kunii Chojiro established JAPC after personally experienced intestinal parasite infection. The JAPC people conducted mass examination and mass chemotherapy focusing on school children, which allowed them to have sustainable income. In 1965, the Korea Association of Parasite Eradication (KAPE) requested JAPC to assist Korea's parasite control activity. In 1968, when Korea-Japan cooperation for parasite control activity established, Japan's operating procedures were directly absorbed by KAPE. With support from JAPC and official development aid through Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency in Japan (now Japan International Cooperation Agency), Korea successfully controlled parasite infection. Post-war and cold-war geopolitics had a significant impact on Korea-Japan cooperation. In 1960s the president of KAPE, Chong-Chin Lee and Kunii Chojiro were well known figures in population control network. They did understand the importance of population control, but did not agree with the approaches taken by western population control experts. From their point of view, it had to be self-initiated, economically self sustainable grass-root activities rather than top-down activities, as experienced in their parasite control in Japan and Korea. This lead to a new Asian model named “Integrated Program”. Together with their influence in population control network, Kunii and Lee manage to secure the fund from IPPF. Emergence of Integrated Program showed how collective experience of Asia, as well as overlap of networking formed ‘Asian Model’ of public health activities. Kunii and Lee shared the same agenda to enable people to have better life through public health measures. While they funneled money from global population control network, they were more interested in securing sustainability of the parasite control activities. This paper focuses on activities and experiences of Kunii Chojiro and Chong-Chin Lee to show interplay of Cold War geopolitics in Asia led to emergence of Asian network.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Child ; Communicable Disease Control* ; Drug Therapy ; Family Planning Services ; Financial Management ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; International Planned Parenthood Federation ; Japan ; Korea ; Leadership ; Parasites* ; Parasitology ; Population Control ; Public Health

Breast MRI is the most accurate adjunctive to the mammography for the screening of breast cancer. Despite lack of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of MRI screening, it is now recommended for the women at high risk for breast cancer by the American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network based on several prospective observational studies. In Korea, a retrospective study reported that preoperative MRI screening of the contralateral breast in women with unilateral breast cancer was associated with reduced metachronous cancer incidence. To introduce breast MRI as a supplemental modality to screening mammography in Korea, standardization and education of interpretation, establishment of MR-guided biopsy and adequate indication, and evaluation of cost-effectiveness and should be preceded.
American Cancer Society ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mammography ; Mass Screening

In 1995: 10,283 units. In 1996: 16,473 units. In 1997: 23,304. In 1998: 27,736 units. Total: 77,796 units. Rate of refusal units: In 1995: 12.81%. In 1996: 10.67%. In 1997: 11.31%. In 1998: 17.78%. Reasons: HBsAg(+): 8.66%. Anti HCV (+): 3.17%. Anti HIV (+): 0.36%. VDRL (+): 1.04%. Malaria (+): 0.33%. Abnormal antibodies (+): 0.34%. High lipid in unit: 630 units (0.80%). Blood clotting: 10 units (0.01%).
Blood Donors ; Red Cross

civilian ; Red Cross ; In Blood

In the 88 cases of biliary disease, which was proven in Seoul Red Cross Hospital from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1981,comparative studies were made with oral and IV cholecystocholangiographic findings and ultrasonographic findings.The resuslts were ; 1. In the 18 cases of GB stones, there are 17 cases (94.4%) of positive findings incholecysto-cholangiography with detection of stone in 7 cases (38.9%), while in sonographic study, 16 cases(88.9%) are shown positive findings with detection of stones in 11 cases (61.1%). 2. In the 17 cases of acalculouscholecystitis, the diagnostic accuracy is 88.2% in cholecystocholangiography and 64.7% in sonography. 3. In the 7cases of CBD stones, all cases are shown positive findings in cholecystocholangiography with detection of stone inonly one case (14.3%), while 6 cases (85.7%) of positive findings are shown in sonography with detection stone inall cases. 4. I.V. cholanagiography is more accurate diagnsotic procedure rather than oral GB study in the casesof poor or non-functioning GB. 5. Sonography is the choice of procedure in the diagnosis of stones, while in thecases of colecystitis, cholecystocholangiography is more useful diagnostic procedure.
Diagnosis ; Red Cross ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To examine the levels of physical activity (PA) and diet quality, socio-demographic and clinical correlates, and identify associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional study design. A total of 74 breast cancer survivors who had completed their primary cancer therapy were recruited from a comprehensive cancer center in Korea. Measurements used included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Diet Quality Index, and the EORTC QLQ-C30. RESULTS: Only twenty-six women (35.1%) met the American Cancer Society criteria of weekly PA, while most participants (93.2%) displayed good or excellent diet quality. Those less likely to meet the PA criteria were older women, women who had a lower economic level, and women not receiving anti-hormone therapy. However, there was no significant factor associated with diet quality. Women who met the criteria for PA displayed significantly better global QOL than women who did not meet the criteria. No significant differences were found in HRQOL between women who did and did not meet the diet quality criteria. CONCLUSION: Nurses should be aware of breast cancer survivors who are older and who have a low economic status when assessing and screening the level of PA to improve HRQOL.
American Cancer Society ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Motor Activity ; Quality of Life ; Survivors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: An unexpected antibody screening test with panel cells from abroad without Dia positive cells is common practice in most laboratories in Korea, although it is impossible to detect anti-Dia. Our laboratory have used DiaCell Dia (DiaMed Ag, Cressier, Morat, Switzerland) as one of antibody screening panel cells and only positive samples with DiaCell Dia cells have been also confirmed with Dia antigen positive panel cells from Korean Red Cross (KRC). In this study, the experiences and clinical usefulness of DiaCell Dia were evaluated. METHODS: The 26,102 pretransfusion samples were tested by DiaMed microcolumn gel assay using the LISS/Coombs card, ID-DiaCell I, II, and DiaCell Dia. The DiaMed microcolumn gel assay using the LISS/Coombs card has been used for unexpected antibody screening test with panel cells from KRC. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of unexpected antibody screening test using ID-DiaCell I and II was 0.58%(151/26, 102), and eleven samples were reactive (1+~2+) with DiaCell Dia panel cells (0.04%). However, only six(0.02%) of 11 samples were reactive(2+) with Dia positive cells from KRC. CONCLUSION: The discrepant detection rate for unexpected antibody with Dia panel cells between from DiaMed and KRC is supposed to need further study. The addition of Dia positive cells as an unexpected antibody screening panel cells is strongly recommended in case that antiglobulin phase of crossmatch is abbreviated for unimmunized patients.
Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Red Cross