Relationship between handwashing practices and infectious diseases in Korean students / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between practice and infectious diseases in elementary, middle and high school students. METHODS: In 16 metropolitan cities and province of the Korea, the students who from fourth grade of elementary school to third grade of high school were surveyed by personal interviews and an web-based online survey from 5 to 25 September, 2014. We analyzed data with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Common cold, diarrhea, and eye infections were more prevalent among students in higher grade than lower grade. In particular, common cold was more prevalent among girls than boys, using hand sanitizer than washing with soaps, and students who wash the dorsal side of hand than not wash the dorsal side of hand. CONCLUSIONS: Higher-grade students showed low status of hand washing practice. Hand washing was determined as the fact which influences to increase the prevention of communicable disease such as common cold. Considering the fact that youth groups have higher risk of being infected due to their group life, schools are recommended to provide adequate educations regarding proper hand washing practice with soap.

Relationship between policy dispute on Sejong City planning and local residents' health status

Recently, Sejong City had been in the center of a policy dispute about city planning in Korea. Although Sejong City was chosen to be a new Multifunctional Administrative City in 2006, politicians continued to challenge the decision at the city level from 2009 upto 2010.This study aims to investigate what influences, such as the policy dispute, impacted the health behaviors and the mental health of local people. We used the survey data from the Community Health Survey in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 and compared the results through logistic regression analysis and direct standardization. Data were gathered from residents in Chungcheongnam-do, the province where Sejong City is located. Data from residents of four other provinces were used as a control: Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Jeonlanam-do, and Gyeonggi-do. We found a significant increase in smoking and drinking rates in the residents of Chungcheongnam-do, which are indicators of health behaviors, in the year of 2009 when the Sejong City dispute erupted. It appears that controversial changes in government policy could have negative influences on local people. Therefore, we need proper measures to prevent them.

The Impact of Health Behaviors and Social Strata on the Prevalence of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine which factors influence the occurrence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The researchers analyzed differences in health behaviors and social strata according to each type of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, examined regional characteristics and compared the study's results with the past research data. METHODS: In statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression was conducted by utilizing the raw data obtained from the 2010 Chungcheongnam-do Community Health Survey. RESULTS: The results showed that cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were influenced by alcohol consumption, obesity and monthly income. CONCLUSION: First, education programs and campaigns that maintain an appropriate level of alcohol consumption are needed. Second, in addition to education programs on managing obesity, government policies should encourage physical exercise. Third, government policies should expand health care services and prevention programs for the low-income class, and strengthen health management networks.