All issues > Volume 49(1); 2006

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2006;49(1):24-28. Published online January 15, 2006.

Health status of children in low socioeconomic conditions

Hee Kyoung HK Choi¹, Jeong A JA Her², Seong Hee SH Jang², Dal Hyun DH Kim³, Kyoung Lim KL Yoon⁴, Young Min YM Ahn⁴

¹Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine,
²Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Medical Center
³Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Women's Hospital,
⁴Department of Pediatrics, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Min YM Ahn ,Email: aym3216@eulji.or.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status and nutritional condition of children living in a low-income community through anthropometric, laboratory evaluation.
Methods
: A community-based survey identified children below 15 years living in a low-income community. Their weight, height, visual acuity, hearing level and dental status were measured. Blood sample were obtained on June and July, 2004. Hemoglobin, serum cholesterol, Hepatitis B antigen/ antibody, AST and ALT were measured.
Results
: A total of 285 students(M : F=141 : 144) aged 6 to 14 years were included in this study. The heights and weights in some grades were smaller than controls. The prevalence of obesity was 10.6 percent in males and 10.7 percent in females. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity, hearing impairments and dental carries were 20.5 percent, 0.3 percent and 69.4 percent. The prevalence of anemia was 10.1 percent. Serum total cholesterol was over 200 mg/dL in 7 percent. They complained of abdominal pain(22.1 percent) and headache(17.1 percent). Hyperthyroidism, cataract, neurofibromatosis, severe atopic dermatitis, ventricular septal defect, strabismus and inguinal hernia were newly diagnosed.
Conclusion
: Mean heights and weights of children in the low-income community were smaller than controls. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity, hearing impairment and dental carries were higher than in the 2003 national health survey. Additional research is needed to evaluate the health status of the low-income community.

Keywords :Low-income children , Health status , Anthropometric