Epidemiologic Characteristics of Injured School-age Patients Transported via Emergency Medical Services in Korea

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of injuries of school-aged children transported via emergency medical services (EMS) that occurred in schools by comparing with injuries that occurred outside of school. METHODS: Data from the 119 EMS from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed. School and non-school injuries were analyzed in children 6 to 17 years of age. The epidemiologic characteristics were assessed according to school-age groups; low-grade primary (6–8 years), high-grade primary (9–13 years), middle (13–15 years) and high (15–17 years) school. Gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the risks of school injury in each age group. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 167,104 children with injury were transported via 119 ambulances. Of these injuries, 13.3% occurred at schools. Boys accounted for 76.9% of school injuries and middle school children accounted for a significantly greater proportion (39.6%) of school injuries (P < 0.001). The most frequent mechanisms of injury at school were falls (43.8%). The peak times for school injury occurrence were lunch time (13:00–13:59) in all age groups. Multivariate regression identified the risky age groups as high-grade primary (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–1.20) and middle school-aged boys (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.74–1.90) and middle school-aged girls (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.21–1.40). CONCLUSION: Notable epidemiologic differences exist between in- and out-of-school injuries. The age groups at risk for school injuries differ by gender.

Welfare and Leisure of Children and Youth in Urban and Rural Areas / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the welfare level and leisure activities of children and the youth in urban areas with rural areas, and examined factors affecting their life satisfaction. METHODS: The fourth wave of the Youth Panel data collected by the Korea Youth Policy Institute has been utilized. A total of 3,145 sample was drawn, and the average age of the sample was about 17 years old (a sophomore in high-school). T-test and multiple regression has been employed. RESULTS: In almost all welfare related variables including life satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, parent attachment, and relationship with teachers and peers, the rural children and youth showed lower scores than their urban counterparts. The only factor whose score was higher to the rural children and youth was community factor including community attachment and guidance. In terms of leisure (satisfaction) level which was the most influential factor of predicting the variance of life satisfaction, the rural children and youth revealed unfavorable condition, as their accessibility to the facilities was low and there were less facilities in rural areas in the first place. CONCLUSIONS: As a way to improve the welfare and cultural level of rural children and youth, this study proposed to make investment to the rural areas by providing them with welfare and leisure infra structure and various welfare and leisure programs. To improve the outdoor leisure activities of the urban children and youth, setting up a sisterhood between urban and rural schools has been suggested.

Meal skipping children in low-income families and community practice implications

We examined dietary habits, food intakes, health status, and school and community life of meal skipping children, and investigated factors predicting meal skipping of children. A sample was composed of 944 children in low-income families who were provided with public meal service. The sample was obtained from the Survey of Meal Service for Poor Children conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2007. Meal skipping was significantly associated with a lower nutrition and health status, and poor school performance of children, as hypothesized. The school age of child, family structure, region, job of caretaker, concern about diet, and the child's visit to welfare center significantly predicted frequency of meal skipping. We suggested a few implications for community practice to reduce meal skipping of children.