title: Health-related behaviors in Korea: smoking, drinking, and perinatal care.
abstract: The prevalence of major health-related behaviors and the relationship of these factors with selected sociodemographic factors were studied in South Korea. Subjects studied were household heads and their wives from 989 households. Age-standardized prevalences of smoking were 74.8% and 2.9% for men and women respectively, with no urban-rural difference. There was a tendency of younger or less-educated men smoking more heavily. The prevalence of use of alcoholic drinks were 79.8% and 26.0% for men and women respectively. More drinking was associated with a younger age and higher level of education. The mean prevalences of prenatal care, clinic or hospital delivery, and breastfeeding were 75.0%, 62.6%, and 75.2% respectively in the urban area, whereas the corresponding rates were 63.0%, 50.9%, and 81.1% in the rural area. Higher rates in prenatal care and hospital delivery were associated with a younger age and higher educational level, while breastfeeding showed the opposite trend.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Raymond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health