All issues > Volume 38(1); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(1):81-90. Published online January 15, 1995.

Observation of Social Background and Disease Patterns of Children in an Institute for Adoption (the 3rd report)

Jae Bong JB Kwon¹, Cheol Soon CS Park¹, Jae Wook JW Ko¹, Myung Ik MI Lee¹, Don Hee DH Ahn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Center, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: A Study was undertaken to assess the family background of abandonment and clinical and social aspects in an institute for foreign adoption. The results were compared to the previous two reports from the institute.
Method
: A sample of 1,728 children from 1987 to 1992 formed the subjects of the study by the medical records in the institution.
Results
: 1) The unmber of girls were more than that of male and ratio of male to female was 1:1.1, which was reduced compared to previous study. 2) The distribution less than one month of age was most commonly and increased compared to previous study. 3) The Place at birth was hospital most commonly. 4) The type of delivery was full-term one(61.5%) and tend to be increased. 5) Age distribution of monthers was from 16 years to 25 years mainly, 1,081 of them(62.5%) were from unmarried one and 409(37.4%) were from married one. 6) By classifying the cause of adoption, unmarried mothers occupied main one(62.5%), poverty(13.4%) extramarital relations(5.2%), divorce(2.9%) and death of parents in the order of frequency, tend to increased in unmarried mothers. 7) Disease pattern showed respiratory disease, jaundice, acute gastroenteritis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, conjunctivitis in order of frequency. By care of foster mother at private home since 1988, the incidence of the transmissible disease was reduced. 8) Congenital anomalies were cleft and palate, hydrocele, umbilical hernia and congenital heart disease in order frequency. 9) Three hundred and eighty two babies were admitted to general hospital. The main disease were bhaline membrane disease. Jaundice, pneumonia and urinary tract disease, sepsis in the order of frequency.
Conclusion
: The ratio of male to female in the institution showed no definite difference and the age was tend to be younger. The cause of adoption was unmarried mother mainly. Respiratory disease in the institution and hyaline membrane disease in the hospitalized was most common.

Keywords :Institutionalized children, Social background, Disease pattern