Epidemiology and Health

Seung-Ah Choe

5 Articles

Timely access to secondary pediatric services in Korea: a key to reducing child and adolescent mortality: Minku Kang, Young June Choe, Hye Sook Min, Saerom Kim, Seung-Ah Choe; Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024059. Published online July 5, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024059

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Abstract Summary PDF: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Geographic disparities in access to secondary pediatric care remain a significant issue in countries with universal health coverage, including Korea. This study investigated the link between geographic access to secondary pediatric care and mortality rates in children and adolescents (0-19 years) in Korea.
METHODS
We analyzed district-level data to assess the percentage of those aged 0-19 years residing outside of a 60-minute travel radius from the nearest secondary pediatric care provider (accessibility vulnerability index, AVI).
RESULTS
The AVI ranged from 0% to 100% across the districts for the study period. The confidence interval (CI) was -0.30 (95% CI, -0.41 to -0.19) in 2017 and -0.41 (95% CI, -0.52 to -0.30) in 2021, indicating that the proportion of those who could not access care within 60 minutes was disproportionately higher in districts with lower socioeconomic status. We found 8% rise in mortality rates among individuals aged 0-19 years for every 10% increase in AVI (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.10).
CONCLUSIONS
The study highlights disparities in pediatric care access and their impact on child survival, emphasizing the need for improved access to achieve true universal health coverage.; Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 한국에서 소아 의료 서비스에 대한 지리적 접근성과 아동 사망률 사이의 연관성을 조사하여, 특히 COVID-19 대유행 기간 동안 접근성 제한이 높은 사망률과 관련이 있음을 발견하였다. 이 연구는 아동 및 청소년의 예방 가능한 사망률에 대한 지역 격차를 줄이기 위해 시기적절한 치료 접근성을 개선해야 할 필요성을 강조하였다.

Key Message
The study investigated the link between geographic access to pediatric services and child mortality in South Korea, finding that limited access, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, was associated with higher mortality. The research highlights the need for improved access to timely care to reduce regional disparities in preventable deaths among children and adolescents.

Barriers to COVID-19 vaccine surveillance: the issue of under-reporting adverse events: Yunha Noh, Hwa Yeon Ko, Ju Hwan Kim, Dongwon Yoon, Young June Choe, Seung-Ah Choe, Jaehun Jung, Ju-Young Shin; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023054. Published online June 7, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023054

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the reporting rates of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) to the spontaneous reporting system (SRS) and its predictors among individuals with AEFIs after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted from December 2, 2021 to December 20, 2021, recruiting participants >14 days after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series. Reporting rates were calculated by dividing the number of participants who reported AEFIs to the SRS by the total number of participants who experienced AEFIs. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using multivariate logistic regression to determine factors associated with spontaneous AEFIs reporting.

RESULTS

Among 2,993 participants, 90.9% and 88.7% experienced AEFIs after the first and second vaccine doses, respectively (reporting rates, 11.6 and 12.7%). Furthermore, 3.3% and 4.2% suffered moderate to severe AEFIs, respectively (reporting rates, 50.5 and 50.0%). Spontaneous reporting was more prevalent in female (aOR, 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 1.81); those with moderate to severe AEFIs (aOR, 5.47; 95% CI, 4.45 to 6.73), comorbidities (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.57), a history of severe allergic reactions (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.47 to 2.77); and those who had received mRNA-1273 (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.49) or ChAdOx1 (aOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.30) vaccines versus BNT162b2. Reporting was less likely in older individuals (aOR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99 per 1-year age increment).

CONCLUSIONS

Spontaneous reporting of AEFIs after COVID-19 vaccination was associated with younger age, female sex, moderate to severe AEFIs, comorbidities, history of allergic reactions, and vaccine type. AEFIs under-reporting should be considered when delivering information to the community and in public health decision-making.

Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 국내 19-49세 성인을 대상으로, 코로나19 예방 백신 접종 후 이상반응 경험에 대한 자발적 보고율을 조사하고, 자발적 보고와 관련된 요인을 파악하고자 하였다. 2021년 12월 2일부터 20일까지 온라인 설문조사를 통하여 자료를 수집하였으며, 연구대상자는 코로나19 예방 백신의 기초접종을 완료한 후 2주 경과한 19-49세 성인으로, 전국 대표성을 확보하기 위해 성별, 연령, 지역별로 층화하여 모집하였다. 이상반응 자발적 보고율은 1차 접종과 2차 접종 후 각각 약 11.6%, 12.7%로 나타났으며, 중등도에서 중증의 이상반응에 대한 자발적 보고율은 약 50.5%, 50.0%로 나타났다. 이상반응 자발적 보고율 관련 영향요인으로는 젊은 연령층, 여성, 이상반응의 중증도, 동반질환, 알러지 반응 이력, 기초접종 백신 종류가 포함되었다.

Key Message
Spontaneous reporting rates of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were low, at around 12 % of any AEFIs and 50 % of moderate-to-severe AEFIs. Younger age, female sex, severe AEFIs, comorbidities, history of allergic reactions, and the type of COVID-19 vaccine were associated with the AEFIs reporting.

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The effect of covid vaccination on menstruation and attitude to the vaccine among Indian women – Results of a prospective survey
Anbukkani Subbian, Jeevithan Shanmugam, Uma Ram
Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research.2024; 11(1): 70. CrossRef

Does the father’s job matter? Parental occupation and preterm birth in Korea: Taemi Kim, Eunseon Gwak, Bolormaa Erdenetuya, Jeong-Won Oh, Jung-won Yoon, Myoung-Hee Kim, Jia Ryu, Seung-Ah Choe; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023078. Published online August 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023078

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Limited evidence is available regarding the impact of paternal occupation and its combined effect with maternal occupation on preterm birth. Therefore, we assessed the association of maternal and paternal occupations with preterm birth.
METHODS
We used the national birth data of Korea between 2010 and 2020. Parental occupations were divided into 5 categories: (1) managers; (2) professionals, technicians, and related workers; (3) clerks and support workers; (4) service and sales workers; and (5) manual workers. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of extremely, very, and moderate-to-late preterm births per occupational category considering individual risk factors.
RESULTS
For the 4,004,976 singleton births, 40.2% of mothers and 95.5% of fathers were employed. Compared to non-employment, employment was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth. Among employed mothers, service and sales occupations were associated with a higher risk of preterm birth than managerial occupations (aOR, 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.10 for moderate-to-late preterm births). The father’s manual occupation was associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (aOR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.13 for moderate-to-late preterm) than managerial occupations. When both parents had high-risk occupations, the risk of preterm birth was higher than in cases where only the mother or neither of the parents had a high-risk occupation.
CONCLUSIONS
Paternal occupation was associated with preterm birth regardless of maternal employment and occupation and modified the effect of maternal occupation. Detailed occupational environment data are needed to identify the paternal exposures that increase the risk.; Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 2010년부터 2020년까지 출생신고자료를 활용하여 부모의 직업이 조산에 미치는 영향에 대해 살펴보았다. 어머니의 경우 서비스 및 판매직종에서 근무할 경우 관리자 직종에 비해 조산 위험이 높았고, 아버지의 경우 육체노동자일 경우 조산의 위험이 높아졌다. 특히 부모 모두 고위험 직업을 가질수록 한쪽만 고위험 직업을 가졌을 때보다 조산 위험이 더 높았다.

Key Message
This study explored the association between parental occupation and preterm birth using Korean national birth data from 2010 to 2020. The analysis revealed that employment was associated with a lower preterm birth risk. Among employed mothers, service and sales occupations exhibited a higher risk than managerial occupations and paternal manual occupations were associated with increased preterm birth risk. When both parents were employed in high-risk occupations, the probability of preterm birth was greater compared to cases where only one of them had such an occupation.

Predictors of COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy among fully vaccinated adults in Korea: a nationwide cross-sectional survey: Yunha Noh, Ju Hwan Kim, Dongwon Yoon, Young June Choe, Seung-Ah Choe, Jaehun Jung, Sang-Won Lee, Ju-Young Shin; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022061. Published online July 22, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022061

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study explored predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster hesitancy among fully vaccinated young adults and parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for their children.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study administered an online survey from December 2 to December 20, 2021. We enrolled participants aged 18-49 years, for whom ≥2 weeks had passed after their initial COVID-19 vaccination. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multivariate logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with booster/vaccine hesitancy.

RESULTS

Among the 2,993 participants, 48.8% showed hesitancy (wait and see: 40.2%; definitely not: 8.7%). Booster hesitancy was more common among women (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.50), younger people (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.77), those with a lower education level (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.82), those who received the mRNA-1273 vaccine type (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.65 to 2.45), and those who experienced serious adverse events following previous COVID-19 vaccination (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.47 to 2.80). The main reasons for booster hesitancy were concerns about safety (54.1%) and doubts about efficacy (29.8%). Among the 1,020 respondents with children aged <18 years, 65.8% were hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19; hesitancy was associated with younger parental age, education level, the type of vaccine the parent received, and a history of COVID-19 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Concerns about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines were the major barrier to booster acceptance. The initial COVID-19 vaccine type (mRNA-1273), young age, gender (women), a low education level, and adverse events after the first COVID-19 vaccine were key predictors of booster hesitancy.

Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 국내 19-49세 성인을 대상으로, 코로나19 3차접종 의향과 그들의 18세 미만 자녀에 대한 코로나19 기초접종 의향을 조사하고, 코로나19 백신접종 기피와 관련된 요인을 파악하고자 하였다. 2021년 12월 2일부터 20일까지 온라인 설문조사를 통하여 자료를 수집하였으며, 연구대상자는 코로나19 기초접종을 완료한 후 2주 경과한 19-49세 성인으로, 전국 대표성을 확보하기 위해 성별, 연령, 지역별로 층화하여 모집하였다. 코로나19 3차접종 기피율은 약 48.8%로 나타났으며, 접종 기피 관련 영향요인으로는 젊은 연령층, 여성, 낮은 교육수준, 기초접종 백신 종류, 기초접종 후 중증 이상반응 경험이 포함되었으며, 18세 미만 자녀에 대한 코로나19 기초접종 기피율은 65.8%로, 관련 영향요인으로는 젊은 부모 연령, 교육수준, 부모의 기초접종 백신 종류, 코로나19 감염 과거력이 포함되었다.

Key Message
Concerns about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines were the major barrier to booster acceptance; the initial COVID-19 vaccine type (mRNA-1273), younger age, gender (women), a low education level, and adverse events after the first COVID-19 vaccine were key predictors of booster hesitancy.

Citations

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Factors influencing Thai university students’ decisions to take COVID-19 vaccine booster doses: a cross-sectional survey
Weerakorn Thichumpa, Naphat Yimthin, Anawat Ratchatorn, Satoko Izumi, Wirichada Pan-ngum
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Short-term side effects of BNT162b2 vaccine in primary care settings in Qatar: a retrospective study
Sami Abdeen, Muna Abed Alah, Manal Al-Zaidan, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Jazeel Abdulmajeed, Asma Ali Al-Nuaimi, Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari
Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors associated with intention to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 booster dose: a cross-sectional study in Peru
Rodrigo Camacho-Neciosup, Ericka N. Balcazar-Huaman, Margarita L. Alvarez-Vilchez, Janith P. De la Cruz-Galán, Yubely Gálvez-Guadalupe, Edwin D. Garcia-Muñoz, Greysi Cerron-Daga, Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas, Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
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Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on college students’ hesitancy to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses: A study from Taizhou, China
Jing-Shan Deng, Chun-Lian Huang, Qiong-Ying Hu, Lei Shi, Xiao-Ying Chen, Xu Luo, Tao-Hsin Tung, Jian-Sheng Zhu
Preventive Medicine Reports.2024; 41: 102709. CrossRef
Adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination during 2021–2022 suppressed by breakfast consumption and favorable sleeping habit among Japanese university students
Nobuyuki Tetsuka, Keiko Suzuki, Kodai Suzuki, Takuma Ishihara, Takao Miwa, Satoko Tajirika, Miho Adachi, Ryo Horita, Taku Fukao, Mayumi Yamamoto
Vaccine: X.2024; 19: 100516. CrossRef
Understanding the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Venezuela
Fabián R. Chacón-Labrador, María G. Passantino, Augusto Moncada-Ortega, Atahualpa A. Ávila, Andrea A. Moreno, Nicolle A. Kuffaty-Akkou, Luisana M. Pedroza, Natasha A. Camejo-Ávila, Daniela L. Mendoza-Millán, Carlis M. Rodriguez-Saavedra, María V. Marcano-
BMC Public Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Why Some People Are Hesitant to Receive COVID-19 Boosters: A Systematic Review
Yam B. Limbu, Bruce A. Huhmann
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease.2023; 8(3): 159. CrossRef
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy in Malaysia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Kai Wei Lee, Sook Fan Yap, Hooi Tin Ong, Myo Oo, Kye Mon Min Swe
Vaccines.2023; 11(3): 638. CrossRef
Factors associated with parental intention to vaccinate their preschool children against COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey in urban area of Jakarta, Indonesia
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Factors associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey in Japan
A. Takamatsu, H. Honda, T. Miwa, T. Tabuchi, K. Taniguchi, K. Shibuya, Y. Tokuda
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Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents of Children Aged 5–11 Years in Korea
Ju Hwan Kim, Dongwon Yoon, Yunha Noh, Jaehun Jung, Young June Choe, Ju-Young Shin
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Effective Vaccination and Education Strategies for Emerging Infectious Diseases Such as COVID-19
Seong-Heon Wie, Jaehun Jung, Woo Joo Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, safety and side-effects in European patients with severe asthma
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ERJ Open Research.2023; 9(6): 00590-2023. CrossRef
Parental concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety and hesitancy in Korea: implications for vaccine communication
Hye-Kyung Cho, Hyunju Lee, Young June Choe, Shinkyeong Kim, Sujin Seo, Jiwon Moon, Eun Hwa Choi, Geun-Yong Kwon, Jee Yeon Shin, Sang-Yoon Choi, Mi Jin Jeong, Myoungsoon You
Epidemiology and Health.2022; 45: e2023004. CrossRef

Income-based disparities in the risk of distant-stage cervical cancer and 5-year mortality after the introduction of a National Cancer Screening Program in Korea: Erdenetuya Bolormaa, Seung-Ah Choe, Mia Son, Myung Ki, Domyung Paek; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022066. Published online August 11, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022066

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3 Web of Science
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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study assessed the socioeconomic gradient in the risk of distant-stage cervical cancer (CC) at presentation and 5-year mortality for new CC patients after the introduction of a national Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in Korea.

METHODS

All new CC cases from 2007 to 2017 were retrieved from the Korea Central Cancer Registry database linked with the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service. The age-standardized cumulative incidence of CC, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of distant metastasis at presentation, and adjusted all-cause mortality hazard ratios (HRs) within 5 years post-diagnosis were assessed according to the income gradient.

RESULTS

The 11-year age-standardized cumulative incidence of CC ranged from 48.9 to 381.5 per 100,000 women, with the richest quintile having the highest incidence. Of 31,391 new cases, 8.6% had distant metastasis on presentation, which was most frequent among Medical Aid beneficiaries (9.9%). Distant-stage CC was more likely when the income level was lower (OR, 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]), 1.28 to 1.67 for the lowest compared to the richest) and among Medical Aid beneficiaries (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.82). The 5-year mortality was greater in the lower-income quintiles and Medical Aid beneficiaries than in the richest quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of CC was higher in the richest quintile than in the lower income quintiles, while the risk of distant-stage CC and mortality was higher for women in lower income quintiles in the context of the NCSP. A more focused approach is needed to further alleviate disparities in the timely diagnosis and treatment of CC.

Summary

Korean summary
새로이 자궁경부암을 진단받은 여성에서 소득수준에 따른 진단시 원격 전이가 있을 위험도와 진단 이후 5년 사망위험도를 연령과 체질량 지수등의 개인 수준의 위험 요인을 보정하여 구했다. 소득 수준이 낮을수록, 의료급여 환자일수록 진단시 원격 전이가 있을 위험과 5년 내 사망 위험이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 자궁경부암에 대한 전국민 대상 선별 검사가 있지만 여전히 소득 수준에 따른 자궁경부암의 적시 진단과 진단 후 생존의 불평등이 남아 있으며 이에 대한 추가 정책이 필요하다.

Key Message
This study adds empirical evidence for an income-based disparity in the cancer stage at presentation and five-year survival among cervical cancer patients even in the presence of a universal screening program.

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Disparities in Cancer Incidence across Income Levels in South Korea
Su-Min Jeong, Kyu-Won Jung, Juwon Park, Nayeon Kim, Dong Wook Shin, Mina Suh
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