Purpose: Exposure to heat and cold stress can negatively affect pregnant women. However, studies on the association between ambient temperature exposure and pregnant women, especially those with diabetes mellitus, are limited. The presence of this disease is likely to affect the woman’s capacity to adapt to the demands of pregnancy, consequently affecting fetal development. We examined the association between exposure to the mean temperature and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. Methods: Health Insurance Reviews and Assessment Service was used to obtain data on patients hospitalized between January 2015 and August 2022. The association between the number of pregnant patients with diabetes mellitus according to monthly mean temperature and seasonal differences was analyzed using a generalized additive model. The model was adjusted for the treatment date, mean humidity, and mean age of the women. Results: The total number of patients with diabetes mellitus in pregnancy was 651,655 and the mean temperature was 12.87℃±9.89℃. The association between the mean temperature and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy showed a U-shaped nonlinear association. During the entire period, the number of patients with diabetes mellitus in pregnancy significantly increased by 2.82 per 1℃ increase in mean temperature (estimate, 2.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.06 to 7.71). The number of patients significantly increased by 72.12 per 1℃ increase in mean temperature in the summer (estimate, 72.12; 95% CI, 50.36–93.89), but the increase was not statistically significant in the winter. Conclusion Our findings suggest that maternal exposure to mean temperature during pregnancy is associated with diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: This paper is based on an ecological study. From 2008 to 2014, we identified the differences in the Low Birth Weight (LBW) rate according to land use rate among the 25 autonomous regions of Seoul. We also demonstrated the effects of ecological environmental differences on maternal outcomes. METHODS: The National Statistical Office obtained data of residential areas and rates, commercial areas and rates, industrial areas and rates, green areas and rates of the 25 autonomous regions from 2008 to 2014. It also obtained data regarding low birth weight rates for the same region and period. The rate of land use is divided into four stages by residential rate, three by commercial rate, three by industrial rate, and four by green area rate The higher the step, the higher the rate is. The method by Baron and Kenny was used to investigate the mediating effects of the concentration of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, O3, CO) on LBW and its relationship to land use in each district of Seoul. The relationship between the change of land use and LBW rate in each region was analyzed with general regression analysis and cluster analysis. RESULTS: This study shows that as the rate of green area to overall area increases in Seoul's industrial area, a causal effect is observed with low birth weight, mediated by SO2. Regression analysis revealed that LBW rates were significantly higher in heavily industrial areas (beta=1.27, SE=0.27, p<0.05), while LBW rate was significantly lower in considerably greener areas (beta=−2.21, SE=0.39, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We confirmed differences in the relationship between residential, commercial, industrial, and green areas, air pollutants, and LBW rate. Areas with high industrial rates have a high LBW rate, while areas with high green rates have a low LBW rate. The autonomous land use ratio includes direct environmental factors. Therefore, pregnant women who are living in highly industrial areas should be especially careful to manage their living environment.
Air Pollutants ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Methods ; Negotiating ; Pregnant Women ; Seoul

Purpose: South Korea ranked 18th out of the 162 participating countries in the 2019 report on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Among the 17 specified goals, it has the most difficulty in achieving gender equality (SDG 5). This shortcoming is manifested in the lack of studies on gender-sensitive indicators. The study aims to establish the significance of the development of a comprehensive health matrix to concretize the concept of gender-sensitivity which is often considered as abstract. Methods: An integrated analysis of health determinants was conducted through a convergence study involving medical, social and natural sciences. This analysis was based on both literature reviews and focusgroup discussions. The 6 following focal points were chosen based on the SDGs: gender equality, medicine, education, economy, nutrition, and environment. Objective quantitative indicators were then designated to each of the 6 areas and comparatively analyzed for South Korea, North Korea, and the other SDGs countries. Four areas on sexual and reproductive health were also selected. Results: The results indicated that South Korea scored much lower than North Korea and the other SDGs countries in terms of gender equality. It was also behind North Korea in education, although North Korea had a comparatively lower ranking in the rest of the areas. On the other hand, it fared better than the aforementioned countries with respect to environment, nutrition, medicine, and economy. Conclusion A comprehensive gender-sensitive health matrix was developed to refine the abstract concept of gender-sensitivity through objective quantitative indicators that assess the health status of a country by means of a scoring system. Gender equality was also confirmed as a common and significant component in the disciplines of sexual and reproductive health and comprehensive health.

Purpose: South Korea ranked 18th out of the 162 participating countries in the 2019 report on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Among the 17 specified goals, it has the most difficulty in achieving gender equality (SDG 5). This shortcoming is manifested in the lack of studies on gender-sensitive indicators. The study aims to establish the significance of the development of a comprehensive health matrix to concretize the concept of gender-sensitivity which is often considered as abstract. Methods: An integrated analysis of health determinants was conducted through a convergence study involving medical, social and natural sciences. This analysis was based on both literature reviews and focusgroup discussions. The 6 following focal points were chosen based on the SDGs: gender equality, medicine, education, economy, nutrition, and environment. Objective quantitative indicators were then designated to each of the 6 areas and comparatively analyzed for South Korea, North Korea, and the other SDGs countries. Four areas on sexual and reproductive health were also selected. Results: The results indicated that South Korea scored much lower than North Korea and the other SDGs countries in terms of gender equality. It was also behind North Korea in education, although North Korea had a comparatively lower ranking in the rest of the areas. On the other hand, it fared better than the aforementioned countries with respect to environment, nutrition, medicine, and economy. Conclusion A comprehensive gender-sensitive health matrix was developed to refine the abstract concept of gender-sensitivity through objective quantitative indicators that assess the health status of a country by means of a scoring system. Gender equality was also confirmed as a common and significant component in the disciplines of sexual and reproductive health and comprehensive health.

BACKGROUND: There have been many voices highlighting the necessity of preconception care as a preventive approach to achieve better pregnancy outcomes for health promotion of mothers and babies. It is important to get preconception care for both men and women, as they play equally important roles for healthy pregnancy. Also, awareness and knowledge of men and women about their health are important factors for behavioral changes for preconception care. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the level of awareness about men and women's preconception care and knowledge of the determinants of healthy pregnancy by gender. Our second goal was to compare men and women's level of awareness and knowledge on it. METHODS: The participants were 500 males and females (aged over 19 years and under 49 years old) either living or working in Seoul city. The data collection period of the study was from July to December, 2017. An online survey was conducted using a panel of online vendors. Then the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: Awareness about both men and women's preconception care was significantly higher in women than in men (p=0.004, p=0.002). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between men and women (p=0.00) in the total score of knowledge on the determinants of preconception care, including smoking, alcohol drinking, age, folic acid intake, and check-up for infectious disease (p=0.00; means women 8.20±1.95 and men 7.27±2.38). Significant gender differences were also found on some items, such as men's alcohol drinking, men's age, men's check-up for infectious disease, women's intake of folic acid, women's check-up for infectious disease. The level of knowledge on men's folic acid intake was the lowest in both men and women. CONCLUSION: Based on the results on the analysis of gender differences in the awareness and knowledge about preconception care, it is necessary to develop and implement preconception care programs based on the gender perspective approach to make women and men equally share responsibility of the birth result.
Alcohol Drinking ; Commerce ; Communicable Diseases ; Data Collection ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Preconception Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Voice