Korean J Prev Med.  1976 Oct;9(1):139-146.

A Study on Sickness and Utilization of Medical Care in a Rural Area of Kyunggido

• Chang YT

Abstract

This survey attempted to determine the overall health situation in Kyunggido in terms of sickness prevalence, sickness distribution, demand for medical care by type, and utilization of medical care. The survey was conducted on 766 households, or 4,065 people, from July 1-31, 1975. The findings from the survey are as follows: 1) In terms of age distribution, 28.7% of the sample was from 10-19, the 40-49 age group was the next largest group, and those over 60 made up 7% of the sample. 2) The education distribution is as follows, 30.4% completed primary school, 22.4% had no formal education, 20.6% attended but did not onplete primary school, and 1.8% attended universities or higher. 3) In terms of occupation, 55.9% were unemployed or family employees, which represents a large dependent population, 30.4% of the workers were employed in farming or fisheries. 4) The marital status is as follows, 58.3% of the women were married, 32.3% unmarried, and 7.5% divorced. 5) The prevalence rate of monthly illness was 19.7% of 100 infant, 42.8% became fatally ill within the first year of life. This is a very high percentage compared with more developed nations. 6) Of those reportion on illness, 54.6% sought treatment. The rate of treatment was highest in infants at 77.7%. Us age increased, demand for treatment decreased to 43.1% for those in the oldest age group. The oldest age group also had the highest rate of non treatment at 56.8%. 7) The demand for medical care showed that 65.6% utilized drug stores, 20.2% utilized hospitals and clinics, 5.4% used herbdrug-stores and herb clinics, and 3.9% relied upon folk medicine and witch craft. 8) The utilization of medical facilities by sex is as follows, 65.1% of the men and 66.0% of the women used drug stores, and 19.2% of the men and 20.2% of the women used hospitals and clinics. However, more men (3.5%) were hospitalized than women (1.8%). 9) In terms of out-patient care, the largest age group of males was 10-19 (28.2%), and the largest age group of females was 0-9 (30.8%). There was no sex difference in the use of western pharmacies. Men age 30-39 and women age 50-59 were the most frequent users of herb clinics. 10) The rate of receiving treatment at drugstore hospitals went towards declining level in the second case of what while increasing much more at herb clinics and folk medicines in the second case than the first one. 11) After primary utilization of hospitals, 32.7% of the adults aged 20-59 used drug-stores as a secondary source of care, and 12.8% of children and youth under age 20 continued receiving care at hospitals. 12) After primary utilization of drug-stores, 32.5% of the adults continued to seek care at drug stores and 1.8% used hospitals. 4.2% of those over age 60 utilized folk medicine and witch craft.

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Child
Developed Countries
Divorce
Education
Family Characteristics
Female
Fisheries
Gyeonggi-do*
Humans
Infant
Male
Marital Status
Medicine, Traditional
Occupations
Outpatients
Pharmacies
Prevalence
Sex Characteristics
Single Person