Purpose: Family-of-origin health and depression are crucial factors influencing beliefs about childbearing among unmarried individuals. This study explored the mediating role of depression in the relationship between family-oforigin health and beliefs about childbearing among unmarried individuals. Methods: This study included 219 unmarried individuals aged 20 to 40, selected using convenience sampling from a university and church in Changwon city, Korea. Data were collected between June 1 and July 31, 2023, using structured questionnaires assessing family-of-origin health, depression, and beliefs about childbearing. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, 1-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and the PROCESS macro model 4. Results: The average age of the study participants was 25.60±4.20 years. The sample comprised 135 females (61.6%) and 84 males (38.4%). Beliefs about childbearing were significantly positively correlated with family-oforigin health (r=0.21, p=0.002) and significantly negatively correlated with depression (r=-0.30, p<0.001). Familyof- origin health was also significantly negatively correlated with depression (r=-0.38, p<0.001). Depression acted as a mediator in the relationship between family-of-origin health and beliefs about childbearing among unmarried individuals, with an indirect effect of 0.04, and a 95% confidence interval of 0.01 to 0.08. Conclusion This study identified the family-of-origin health as a significant pathway influencing unmarried individuals' mental health and beliefs about childbearing. These findings have implications for interventions to address the declining birth rate.

Purpose: Adolescence involves parental health management, with parents or guardians often making decisions regarding vaccination. This study assessed how parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and health beliefs about influenza vaccination influenced their intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children. Methods: This descriptive survey was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kyung Hee University for use between December 1 and 31, 2022. Parents of adolescents aged 13–19 years were surveyed face-to-face and online using a modified tool to evaluate their vaccination intentions, knowledge, attitudes, and health beliefs regarding their children’s influenza vaccination. The analysis included 149 responses and involved methods such as calculating means, standard deviations, t-tests, analyses of variance, Scheffe tests, correlations, and hierarchical regressions. Results: On a 7-point scale, the mean score for parental intention to vaccinate their adolescents was 4.99±1.24. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that positive attitudes towards influenza vaccination, television and radio information, and perceived benefits influenced children’s vaccination intentions, with positive parental attitudes being the most significant factor. The independent variables accounted for 66.7% of the variance in vaccination intentions. Conclusion To improve parental intentions to vaccinate adolescent children against influenza, promoting vaccination benefits and safety through the media is crucial to enhance favorable attitudes. Initiatives that strengthen positive parental attitudes towards influenza vaccination and increase awareness of its benefits can effectively boost vaccination intentions.

Purpose: This study assessed the prevalence of malnutrition and obesity among children and adolescents from immigrant families living in Korea. Methods: A total of 436 subjects (age: <18 years) from immigrant families were examined. The 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for Children and Adolescents were used to assess the malnutrition and obesity status of the subjects. Subjects with a height-for-age of <3rd percentile, weight-for-age of <5th percentile, body mass index (BMI)-for-age of <5th percentile, and BMI-for-age of ≥95th percentile were defined as stunted, underweight, wasted, and obese, respectively. Results: The overall prevalence of stunted, underweight, wasted, and obese subjects was 5.5%, 9.0%, 8.8%, and 18.6%, respectively. Comparison of first- and second-generation immigrants revealed that the prevalence of malnutrition was higher in first-generation immigrants than in second-generation immigrants. Moreover, the prevalence of malnutrition and obesity in first-generation immigrants living in Korea for <5 years was not significantly different from that in first-generation immigrants living in Korea for ≥5 years. In addition, comparisons by family origin showed that children from Central Asian families had a higher prevalence of malnutrition than other children. Conclusion Children and adolescents from immigrant families still suffer from malnutrition after resettling in Korea. Therefore, nutritional programs should be provided to improve their malnutrition status.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a maternal adaptation scale for primipara in Korea.Method: The theoretical framework of this study was developed based on Roy adaptation model, a literature review, and in-depth interviews with primipara who gave birth within 6 months. Data were collected using a selfreport questionnaire at obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatric hospitals. A total of 321 primiparas who had given birth within 6 months were included in this study. Results: An exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the maternal adaptation scale for primipara consisted of 6 factors reflected in a total of 28 questions. A criterion validity assessment confirmed that a significant correlation was present between the developed scale and Lederman tool measuring maternal adaptation (r=0.54, p<0.001). The known-group validity was also established demonstrating that the normal group had higher scores of maternal adaptation than those of the depressed group (F=44.53, p<0.001). Cronbach α for the total scale was 0.87 and the subscales ranged from 0.73 to 0.84, establishing the scale's reliability. Conclusion The study concluded that this newly developed scale of maternal adaptation is a reliable and valid instrument through empirical data verification. Therefore, the scale is recommended for active use in evaluating the level of maternal adaptation of new mothers within clinical settings, and future studies investigating the phenomenon.

Traditionally, cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) has been defined as a cesarean section performed at the request of the pregnant woman rather than for medical necessity. It was thought to provide minimal benefits to both the pregnant woman and the fetus and was seen as an inefficient use of healthcare resources. However, the recent rise in the choice and use of cesarean sections is influenced not only by obstetrical factors but also by psychological and socio-cultural factors of the mother, the desire among medical providers to avoid uncertainty, and the pursuit of time and economic convenience, among other complex factors. In particular, there is a growing trend among medical professionals who prefer cesarean sections to avoid costly medical lawsuits. However, if a pregnant woman opts for an elective cesarean section due to the convenience of medical professionals or fear of litigation, even if she prefers a vaginal delivery, it would be considered an unnecessary cesarean section. When a pregnant woman desires CDMR, medical professionals should thoroughly explain the advantages and disadvantages of both attempting vaginal delivery and CDMR so that she can make an informed decision. Nevertheless, if a pregnant woman still chooses a cesarean section after being fully informed, her autonomy should be respected. In such cases, it is recommended that medical practitioners use a minimally invasive surgical method, along with appropriate preoperative and postoperative care, to reduce the morbidity of both the mother and infant and to support a rapid recovery.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the leading cause of neonatal respiratory morbidity and mortality. Advancements in neonatal care, along with extended insurance coverage, have resulted in increased utilization of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) for RDS. This has contributed to a decrease in neonatal mortality. The primary mode of respiratory support in infants with RDS has dramatically changed over the last decades, transitioning from invasive to noninvasive support. Therefore, less invasive surfactant therapy has emerged as a widely adopted approach for SRT, establishing itself as a standard method in preterm infants’ care. This review addresses pulmonary surfactant, from its discovery to application in newborns with RDS. It also reviews the history of guidelines of SRT and health insurance issues. Future studies should evaluate various emerging noninvasive respiratory support modalities along with SRT for the respiratory management of neonates, given the lack of sufficient evidence regarding these approaches.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze how obstetricians use risk factors for high-risk pregnancies to predict complicated pregnancies. Methods: Twenty-four obstetricians were surveyed using a questionnaire that included 75 high-risk pregnancy factors identified by the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. These factors are used to predict 11 types of complicated pregnancies: preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, incompetent internal os of the cervix, placenta previa, placenta abruptio, postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia, oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, gestational diabetes mellitus, and intrauterine growth restriction. Results: Obstetricians utilized 65 of the 75 identified high-risk factors to predict 11 types of pregnancy complications. They identified twin pregnancy as the most significant risk factor, followed by chronic hypertension, a history of preterm birth, pregestational diabetes mellitus, advanced maternal age over 40, and a history of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Twin pregnancies were associated with all 11 complicated pregnancies. Ten of the 75 risk factors were not used for predicting complications. Conclusion This study demonstrated that obstetricians recognized twin pregnancy as a strong risk factor associated with complications of pregnancy. Based on the results of this paper, we expect prediction models for complicated pregnancies to be developed in the future.