All issues > Volume 47(3); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(3):264-268. Published online March 15, 2004.

Observation on Causes of Adoption and Social Background of Children in Adoption Institution(5th Report)

Hak Sung HS Kim¹, Soo Yeon SY Kim¹, Sun Hee SK Kong¹, Dong Woo DW Lee¹, Kyung Eun KE Kim¹, Hye Jung HJ Shin¹, Jae Yoon JY Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jae Yoon JY Kim ,Email: nmcmpkjy@unitel.co.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Through a review of data provided by an adoption institution, this study was designed to provide a clue to help to reduce the abandonment of children by comparing the conditions at birth, social background, reason for request for adoption, and the degree of dependence on foreign adoption compared with the previous four reports.
Methods
: A total of 445 children who had been admitted to an institution during the period of 1997 to 2001 were subjected to the study. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively.
Results
: The sex ratio of male to female was 1 : 0.87. The mean birth weight was 2.97?.70 kg, and the mean gestational age was 38.8?.4 weeks. Full term babies accounted for 82%. Most of the children(94.8%) admitted to the studied institution were under one month of age, which showed a significant increase compared to the previous results. Most of the children(98.9%) were delivered at a hospital and this percentage was significantly higher than that of the previous results. The average age of the mothers was 21.2?.7 years. Most of them(52.1%) fell between the ages of 16 and 20, which showed a significant increase as compared to the previous result. Four hundred(89.9%) babies were first bornes, and the majority of adoption requests were made by unmarried mothers (83.6%). The vast majority(96.4%) were adopted in foreign countries.
Conclusion
: The main reason for adoption was the unmarried status of the baby's mothers and the maternal age tended to be younger. In order to reduce the number of unmarried mothers and consequent adoptions, first of all, an overall social view on adoption must change, and active promotion of domestic adoption must be carried out and supported by the country.

Keywords :Children abandonment, Foreign adoption, Causes of adoption