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Background: Multicomponent interventions that include both school and family or community involvements have the
potential to cause significant changes in the levels of health in adolescents. To this end, KOICA and Yonsei Global Health
Center implemented a school-based health promotion program from 2015 to 2016 in Northern Lima and Callao, Peru.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a school-based health promotion intervention on the health behaviors
of school adolescents in Peru.
Methods: Health behaviors were measured using a standard self-administered questionnaire before and after the in-
troduction of a school-based health promotion intervention in 2014 and 2016. The intervention was executed in secondary
schools, specifically two schools from Lima and two from Callao, from April 2015 to November 2016. Two schools (one
from each area) were selected as control schools. The interventions included health education, screening, and psycho-
logical counseling of vulnerable individuals as well as education for teachers and workshops with parents.
Results: Descriptive statistics, chi-square test results, and logistic regression values were computed. Sample sizes were
332 and 255 in 2014 and 933 and 599 in 2016 in the intervention and control schools, respectively. Logistic regression
analysis revealed significant improvement in the consumption of vegetables and in depression in the intervention
schools. Suicide attempts, television-watching, video game use, Internet use, consumption of chips and sugary drinks,
and being in fights did not decrease in the intervention group but did increase in the control group. Thus, the intervention
might have prevented the worsening of these behaviors in the intervention schools.
Conclusion: The intervention had a positive effect on vegetable consumption and feeling depressed as well as on prevent-
ing the increase in sedentary behaviors, fighting, and suicide attempts.
A project on maternal and child health (MCH) was conducted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in Kwango, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs and benefits of the MCH project, which was under Official Development Assistance for a period of 3 years from 2014 to 2016. The study conducted a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) using a benefit-cost ratio (BCR). The costs were the total costs incurred in implementing the MCH project. The benefits of the MCH project were estimated as the monetary values of the reduction in maternal mortality rates and the mortality rates of infants and children aged under 5 years. The adjusted costs that converted the time value for 2016 were estimated as USD 1,969,532 as part of the CBA. The benefits of reduced maternal mortality and the mortality of infants and children aged under 5 years were estimated as USD 681,416, USD 4,332,376, and USD 1,710,184, respectively, in monetary terms. The total benefits were estimated as USD 6,723,976 and the BCR was calculated at 3.41. In addition, the benefits were estimated by the different economic assumptions through a sensitivity analysis. The MCH project was economically satisfied under the most conservative assumptions.
Background: This study aims to utilize Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) data to identify macroscopic determinants of health at national level and to utilize it in health policy development through comparison and analysis with Korea.
Methods: The potential years of life lost (PYLL) were used as dependent variables and 19 indicators were selected as health determinants to be independent variables based on the results of previous studies. Data analysis was done using SAS ver. 9.4 package (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and model used in technical statistics concerning PYLL by countries, multi-linearity test between independent variables and OECD economic studies were modified and used.
Results: From 1994 to 2012, the average PYLL for OECD countries was 4,262.9 years, the highest in Estonia and the lowest in Iceland. As a result of the analysis using the fixed effect model, the significant variables affecting PYLL were four variables: gross domestic product, nitric oxide, tobacco consumption, and number of doctors. The health determinants that had more influence on the PYLL of Korean people compared to other OECD countries were tobacco consumption, calorie consumption, fat intake and total health expenditure.
Conclusion: In order to effectively reduce unnecessary deaths, we must continue to strengthen our smoking policy and nutrition policies such as calorie and fat intake. It is necessary to prevent the increase of total health expenditure due to the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and to strengthen the public health aspect.
INTRODUCTION This paper reviews the trial and error occurring before an increase in cigarette prices and the subsequent effects of this in South Korea. In addition, we introduce the social phenomena that occur as a result of an increase in tobacco tax, and propose effective strategies and principles that need to be taken into account before increasing cigarette prices.
METHODS We compared changes to smoking rates before and after the increase in cigarette prices. To investigate the changes that occurred before South Korea's increase in tobacco tax, we first analysed the state of cigarette consumption and then the change in smoking rates.
RESULTS The increase in cigarette prices caused an immediate backlash from smokers, particularly low-income groups and those claiming tax inequality. In particular, the sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) increased dramatically and the lower price marketing of tobacco companies led to short-term market share increases. As expected, smoking rates in South Korea decreased. However, because the price increase was not sufficient to encourage widespread smoking cessation, the decrease in smoking rates was not significant.
CONCLUSIONS Because the primary objective of the cigarette pricing policy was not designed to promote public health, by reducing smoking rates, it received public criticism. To avoid public criticism, the government must emphasize and convince the public that the primary objective of increasing cigarette prices is to protect public health through a decline in smoking rates. Ideally, health authorities should play a leading role in formulating tobacco tax policy.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and correlates of insufficient physical activity in adolescents in Peru. METHODS: We used a self-administered questionnaire developed from Global school-based Student Health Survey to collect information from secondary school students in North Lima and Callao in 2015. We carried out Poisson regression with robust variance using generalized linear models to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of insufficient physical activity for its correlates. RESULTS: We have found that 78% of the adolescents did not meet the global recommendation of the World Health Organization on physical activity in the last week before the survey. Female respondents (APR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.04–1.21), respondents who perceived themselves as overweight (APR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.03–1.18), and respondents who consumed insufficient vegetables and fruits [no vegetables (APR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.06–1.59), no fruits (APR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.00–1.31) as compared to those who consumed ≥ 2 servings every day in the last seven days] were more likely to report insufficient physical activity. Adolescents who worked after school (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.84–0.99), had physical education classes five times per week (APR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.88–0.99), and had parental supervision (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.87–0.98) were less likely to report insufficient physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sex, work after school, perceived body weight, physical education class, parental support, and healthy dietary behaviors were associated with insufficient physical activity. Attempts to improve physical activity should look for ways to enhance leisure-time physical activity, parental support, physical education classes, healthy dietary behaviors, and normal body weight maintenance in adolescents with integrated efforts from the family and school. DESCRIPTORS: Adolescent Behavior. Physical Activity. Sedentary Lifestyle. Life Style. Risk Factors. Socioeconomic Factors. Health Surveys.
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse among people aged 15?49 years in Nepal. Secondary data analysis was performed using the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011. The study was restricted to the respondents who reported ever having had sexual intercourse; 9843 females and 3017 males were included. Condom use was assessed by asking if respondents used condoms in their most recent sexual intercourse. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using Complex Sample Analysis Procedure to adjust for sample weight and multistage sampling design. Overall, 7.6% of total, and 16.3% of males and 6.2% of females reported using condoms in their last sexual intercourse. Living in Far-Western region, age and wealth quintile were positively associated with condom use in both males and females. Being unmarried was the most important predictor of condom use among males. Higher education was associated with increased likelihood of condom use in females. However,mobility,having multiple sexual partners, and HIV knowledge were not signi?cant correlates of condom use in both sexes. A big difference was observed in the variance accounted for males and females; indicating use of condoms is poorly predicted by the variables included in the study among females. Condom use was more associated with sociodemographic factors than with sexual behavior and HIV knowledge.
Objectives The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) established 4 health centers to provide hypertension screening and a health support program in a deprived urban area of Lima, Peru. This case report provides a mid-term evaluation of the KOICA’s hypertension prevention and control programs.
Methods A follow up study was performed on 663 residents who were diagnosed with prehypertension or hypertension (Stage 1 and 2) in the 4 KOICA health centers. Patients participated in programs designed to prevent and control hypertension through education sessions over the course of 6 months. Using simple descriptive statistics and computer simulations, we evaluated the effect of hypertension prevention and control programs on the participants.
Results The KOICA health programs appeared to significantly contribute to lowering the blood pressure (BP) of the participants. The total number of participants with normal BP increased from none to 109. Overall, the female and younger patients responded better to the KOICA programs than the male and older participants. In addition, the average systolic BP, diastolic BP, and body mass index of all participants was significantly reduced.
Conclusion The KOICA programs were effective at lowering blood pressure, particularly amongst the prehypertension group than the Stage 1 and 2 hypertension groups. This suggests that providing an extensive screening service for adults with prehypertension will help control hypertension in the early stages.
Objectives:This study compared the physical, mental, and social health levels among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
Methods:We sampled from 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries and divided physical, mental, and social health into three domains based on World Health Organization health definitions.
Results:A multivariate hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted to group countries that were similar in terms of health. Regarding physical health, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and ten more countries reported favorable health conditions. For mental health, Australia, Canada and eight more countries revealed favorable conditions. Finally, in terms of social health, Austria, Finland, Iceland, and seven more countries reported favorable conditions. Sweden and Switzerland reported the best health conditions aggregated across all three domains. Conversely, Estonia, Hungary, and Turkey reported comparatively poorer health across all three domains when compared with other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
Conclusions:
We suggested that mental health policy should be further strengthened in cases of Korea and Japan. In case of the Eastern Bloc countries, health policies should be established focusing on health equity for effective improvement of indicators.
Capacity mapping for health promotion in Peru is said to have been done in 2001 and 2010 by the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization through a regional exercise, but no specific report is available to examine in detail. This paper reviews the role of what has come to be termed ‘capacity-mapping’ in health promotion in three health center service areas in Peru that are part of a community-based health promotion project partially financed by KOICA. One international capacity mapping tool was used to evaluate the situation of the mentioned services areas, specifically the Health Promotion Capacity Profile, developed by WHO in 2004. Local-level capacity for health promotion was analyzed, and limitations are highlighted. The results of the local-level exercise are discussed and suggestions are made on how to improve the identified components in Lima, Peru that are the most lacking; primarily, the areas of partnerships among public, nongovernmental and private organizations, professional development, and health promotion financing. Community-based interventions such as local health promotion programmes should be encouraged as they foster partnerships and support the strengthening of health promotion education for local staff. In addition, the introduction of an earmarked tobacco tax system could be a solution to the considerable financing issue that also affects local health centers, so that the development of effective and sustainable health promotion programmes can be attained.
