PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.40, September 30, 2021 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease StatisticsOriginal Articles

• COVID-19 Special Report 2021-09-30

  0 492 154

  Epidemiological investigation of COVID-19 outbreak in an indoor Taekwondo gym, the Republic of Korea

  Jin A Kim, Jieun Kim, Eunyoung Kim, Hyungyong Lee, Yun-Jin Park, Yeon Wha Choi, Eungyu Lee, Giho Kim, Jong Mu Kim, Sang-Eun Lee, Young-Joon Park

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(40): 2786-2795

  

  

  Abstract

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  From July 17^th to August 10^th, 2021, there was a coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak in an indoor Taekwondo gym, a Korean style of martial art, characterized by physical training such as punching and kicking. The outbreak occurred in Daejeon, the 5th largest metropolitan city in South Korea. An epidemiological investigation was performed to determine the risk factors of COVID-19 outbreaks related to Taekwondo practitioners in the gym for children, and serial transmissions to their households, schools, and communities. As a result, a total number of 260 confirmed cases were identified as gymrelated (77), school/family contacts (123) and community contacts (60). For treatment, 128 child cases who required guardians were allocated to domiciliary care, while the other cases were sent to COVID-19 treatment centers and/or hospitals. Among 199 gym practitioners/attendees, there were 74 (37.2%) confirmed cases who consecutively infected an additional 32 students in related schools and 83 family members in related households. The secondary attack rate in schools was highest in daycare centers (37.8%), followed by kindergartens (8.4%) and elementary schools (0.7%). The secondary attack rate in households was 44.1% with siblings being most affected (41.7%), followed by mothers (31.0%) and fathers (22.6%). Our study demonstrated that to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections in indoor gym for children, frequent ventilation is essential. And to prevent transmission to parents and guardians who provide care to household-isolated child in domiciliary care, health training for effective household infection control should be given beforehand.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-09-30

  0 330 116

  HIV/AIDS Notifications in the Republic of Korea, 2020

  Kim Koun, Jung Yoon Hee, Kim Taeyoung, Choi Ho Yong

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(40): 2803-2808

  Abstract

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  To examine the 2020 status of the number of newly infected persons and the results of the infection route, data from the 2020 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) report and epidemiological investigation was analyzed. In 2020, 1,016 people newly infected cases of HIV were reported, of which there were 818 Korean cases and 198 foreigner cases. In terms of gender, 935 cases were male, which accounted for 92% of the total. By age, those in the 20-29-year-old age group accounted for the majority of cases at 33.8% (343 cases), followed by those in the 30-39-year-old age group at 29.8% (303 cases) and those in the 40-49-year-old age group at 15.0% (152 cases). Cases in the 20-49-year-old age group accounted for 78.5% of the total. In terms of HIV detection, 731 cases (71.9%) were detected in hospitals and 166 cases (16.3%) were detected in public health centers. This report found that wanting to confirm the cause of illness in a medical institutions was the most common reason to take the HIV test, accounting for 28.0% (218 cases). In addition, 99.7% (584 cases) of respondents answered that the route of transmission was “sexual contact”.
  This report concluded that understanding the domestic HIV/AIDS reporting status can provide results such as occurrence status and infection route to the public and provide basic data for promoting related research and prevention management policies.

• Original Articles 2021-09-30

  0 185 206

  Development of the Life Functioning scale for older adults in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

  Lee Yunhwan, Kim Eunsaem, Yoon Jihye, Won Chang Won, Kim Miji, Jang Soongnang, Oh Kyungwon, Kim Jihee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(40): 2809-2821

  Abstract

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  This study aimed to develop instruments for assessing physical functioning among older adults for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on literature reviews of national health surveys and cohort studies, a 144-item bank for assessing physical functioning was constructed. Focus group interviews of adults aged 50 years or older were conducted on 62 items selected to investigate the level of understanding, followed by a pretest of the items on a national representative sample (n = 508). The final 25-item questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability based on classical test and item response theories. The Life Functioning (LF) scale was developed to assess the physical functioning of people aged 50 years or older in the KNHANES. The LF scale encompasses dimensions of functional limitations, disabilities, and social activities. The scale satisfies a one-dimensionality assumption with good item fit, and demonstrates criterion validity, construct validity, and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.89). The LF scale consists of 25 items and has a total score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of functioning. Further testing of the instrument in the KNHANES sample, analyzing its predictive validity and sensitivity to change, evaluating its application in diverse population groups, and developing a short-form version are warranted.

• Original Articles 2021-09-30

  0 413 155

  Delay factors of prehospital and inter-hospital transfer of acute stroke patients: Results from a nationwide survey by EMS and stroke physicians.

  Mi-sun Oh, Minwoo Lee and Kyung-Ho Yu, Sang-Moon Yun, Won-Ho Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(40): 2822-2830

  

  

  Abstract

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  Cerebrovascular disease causes not only high mortality rates, but also functional impairments of patients, resulting in huge family and social burdens. In particular, it is well known that timely transfer within the golden time is required for the optimal treatment of patients with acute stroke. Thus, a rapid response must be effectively performed from the pre-hospital stage, but a specialized stroke patient transfer system has not been established in the existing emergency medical system. Therefore, the necessity of systematic and integrated establishment of an emergency medical system for stroke patients within the framework of the existing emergency medical system has emerged.
  The purpose of this study is to identify the current status of the emergency transfer system of patients with acute stroke and develop a transfer network system at the pre-hospital and inter-hospital stages that reflects the local status to present strategies to improve the implementation of the stroke emergency treatment capacity in the community. To this end, two questionnaire surveys targeted 119 paramedics and stroke physicians were conducted regarding the recognition and status of the pre-contact system and the inter-hospital transfer system for stroke patients. Through the result of survey, it was revealed that the state of the nationwide systemized advance contact system has not been properly established, and that there is a demand from paramedics and stroke physicians in the field to the better system.
  Therefore, the clinical application of the stroke pre-contact system and the inter-hospital transfer system with continuous education of 119 paramedics that will be developed through this study will serve as a platform for stroke patients to receive faster and more accurate treatment, as a basic model for a nationwide pre-contact program for 119 paramedics.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-09-30

  0 308 74

  Trends in intake of sodium, 2010-2019

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(40): 2831-2832

  

  

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