PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.25, June 27, 2024 Article TypeOriginal ArticlesOutbreak ReportsQuickStats

• Original Articles 2024-06-27

  1 148 14

  A Study on Spatial Autocorrelation according to the Geographical Distribution of Major Health Indicators: Focusing on Regional Units in Chungcheong Province

  Gyeongmin Lee, MyungBae Park, EunAh Kim, Seoncheol Lim, Sunghyun Kang, Soohwan Kim, Eunseong Kim, JaeHyun Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(25): 1071-1089 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.25.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  Long-term strategies are necessary to prevent and manage chronic diseases owing to the aging of the population in the Chungcheong region. Geographical connections with nearby areas were determined by identifying the spatial distribution characteristics of major health indicators at the city, county, and district levels. Consequently, factors such as the depression experience rate and prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were interpreted to be insignificant. Most of the major health indicators (in addition to the ratio of single-person households, number of essential medical clinics, and need for unmet medical care) comprised the spatial clustering of adjacent communities within the Chungcheong area. This study presented the current status of regional health gaps from various viewpoints by schematizing the health indicators for each city, county, and district. Thus, this study aimed to suggest public health intervention strategies through the identification of significant characteristics of the Chungcheong area compared to the entire country.

• Original Articles 2024-06-27

  1 504 31

  Dental Caries Status and Trends in 5 Years Old Children in the Republic of Korea

  Hae-Eun Shin, Kyungwon Oh

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(25): 1090-1100 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.25.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  This study aimed to examine the current status of dental caries in primary teeth of 5-year-old children in the Republic of Korea using data from the Korea National Children’s Oral Health Survey. Data from 8,344 children (4,216 boys and 4,128 girls) from 215 daycare centers and 201 kindergartens nationwide who participated in the survey were analyzed in this study. The analyses conducted on the 2021–2022 Korea National Children’s Oral Health Survey data showed that the experience rate of dental caries in primary teeth was 66.4%, and the prevalence was 30.2%. The prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth were higher in girls than in boys. In addition, the experience rate level was associated with geography. The rate of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) was high (46.1%), with one in two children having S-ECC. The experience rate of dental caries in primary teeth is more than 10 percentage points higher than the target of 55.0% in the National Health Promotion Plan (Health Plan 2030). Active interventions are needed to improve children's oral health, such as oral health education for proper oral care and regular dental visits to prevent primary caries.

• Outbreak Reports 2024-06-27

  0 215 21

  Measles Outbreak and Response Among International Students in Gyeongsangbuk-do Area (Gyeongsan-si) in 2024

  Chungmin Park, Hye-jin Kim, Sookhyun Kim, Daseul Kim, Junseock Son, Myunghee Kim, Youkyoung Kim, Byoungsuk An, Sundeok Han, Jongha Park, Tae Jong Son

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(25): 1101-1115 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.25.3

  

  

  Abstract

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  This report describes a large-scale measles outbreak that occurred in a university dormitory in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, between April 6 and May 10, 2024. We analyzed the characteristics of confirmed patients, the outbreak pattern, and the central and local governments’ responses. The outbreak, which was originated in a dormitory housing international students, resulted in 22 measles cases from April 6 to May 10. The first case was confirmed on April 6 after arriving from abroad on March 20. The patients exhibited one or more symptoms of cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis. The key response strategies emphasized rapid containment to halt transmission, including cohort isolation within the dormitory and monitoring of symptomatic individuals. Communication challenges within the international students hindered verification of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccination history, underscoring the need for simultaneous assessment of susceptibility and vaccination to promote antibody formation and minimize transmission. Measures, such as verifying vaccination records upon entry and implementing post-arrival vaccination programs, are necessary to prevent future measles outbreaks among international students. Additionally, educating international students about infectious disease awareness and prevention measures is essential to enable swift responses to outbreaks.

• QuickStats 2024-06-27

  0 27 13

  Trends in the Proportion of Korean Adolescents Engaged in Strength Training, 2014–2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(25): 1116-1117 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.25.4

  

  

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