Background
Vitamin D may enhance immune system function and provide a protective effect against infections. Feto-maternal circulation plays an important role in supplying the developing fetus with nutrients and antibodies for its development and health during pregnancy and for its early years of life after birth. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of maternal vitamin D supplementation in preventing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children.
Methods
We searched the Central and MEDLINE databases and went through all the reference lists in the related articles. We also searched for ongoing trials at http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/ and www.clinicaltrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation with a placebo or no treatment in pregnant women published in the English language up to March 2019 were included. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a predefined protocol and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, with differences agreed upon by consensus. The predefined primary outcome was the number of offspring who had RTIs. The secondary outcome was the presence of measurable serum immunoglobulin E levels.
Results
Three trials involving 3,224 participants (mother–child pairs) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The present analysis reported that maternal supplementation with vitamin D had no effect on RTIs among children (n=1,486 offspring; risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.11; random effects; I² statistics, 0%).
Conclusion
Maternal vitamin D supplementation had no effect on RTIs in children. Therefore, consideration of other prevention methods in this regard is recommended.

Citations

• The effects of prenatal vitamin D supplementation on respiratory and allergy-related outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  Qin Li, Xiaoshuang Xu, Ying Liu, Shao Yin, Qian Hu, Qiang Ji, Yue Zhong, Fengya Zhu
  World Allergy Organization Journal.2025; 18(7): 101075.     CrossRef
• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Respiratory Infections in Children under 6 Years Old: A Systematic Review
  Larisa Mihaela Marusca, Gowry Reddy, Mihaela Blaj, Reshmanth Prathipati, Ovidiu Rosca, Felix Bratosin, Iulia Bogdan, Razvan Mihai Horhat, Gabriela-Florentina Tapos, Daniela-Teodora Marti, Monica Susan, Raja Akshay Pingilati, Florin George Horhat, Mavrea A
  Diseases.2023; 11(3): 104.     CrossRef
• Maternal vitamin D intakes during pregnancy and child health outcome
  Erdenebileg Nasantogtokh, Davaasambuu Ganmaa, Shirchinjav Altantuya, Bayarsaikhan Amgalan, Davaasambuu Enkhmaa
  The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.2023; 235: 106411.     CrossRef
• Effectiveness of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation in Preventing Respiratory Tract Infections in Children
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2022; 43(3): 155.     CrossRef

Background
This research compared the effectiveness of play therapy provided individually or in groups for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms among children.
Methods
This was a randomized controlled trial that used a multi-stage random sampling method. Participants included 45 children aged 6 to 10 years old with ODD, all of whom had been referred to medical consultation centers in Ahvaz, Iran in 2012. Experimental groups consisted of 15 children receiving individual play therapy and 15 receiving group play therapy, while the control group consisted of 15 randomly selected children. Data were collected using the child behavior checklist parent report form and teacher report form, along with clinical interviews with the parents. Play therapy took place weekly for eight total sessions; individual sessions lasted 45 minutes each, while group sessions were each 60 minutes in duration. Participants were assessed in three stages, including preintervention, post-intervention, and at 2-month follow-up. PASW SPSS ver. 18.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and analysis of covariance analysis methods were used to analyze data.
Results
Results showed meaningful decreases in ODD symptoms in the experimental groups in comparison with the control group, based on parent reporting (P≤0.001 and F=129.40) and the teacher reports additionally showed meaningful decreases in ODD symptoms in the experimental groups compared to the control group, (P≤0.001 and F=93.14). Furthermore, the effects were maintained after 2 months.
Conclusion
This research supports the efficacy of individual and group play therapy for the treatment of ODD in children, as well as the consistency of the effects at 2-month follow-up.

Citations

• Behavioural interventions targeting the prevention and treatment of young children’s mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
  Getachew Mullu Kassa, Zhiyuan Yu, Fentahun Minwuyelet, Deborah Gross
  Journal of Global Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The effect of child-centered play therapy (CCPT) on the symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder in preschool children
  Rasoul Heshmati, Khalil Esmailpour, Rasoul Hajsaghati, Fereshteh Azizi Barenji
  International Journal of Play.2023; 12(2): 193.     CrossRef
• A systematic review of evidence-based interventions for child and adolescent mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries
  Wagner Silva Ribeiro, Antônio José Grande, Mauricio Scopel Hoffmann, Carolina Ziebold, David McDaid, Andra Fry, Clayton Peixoto, Cláudio Miranda, Derek King, Cristiane Damiani Tomasi, Christine Faustino, Sandra Leone, Silvia Moraes, Antonio Augusto Schäfe
  Comprehensive Psychiatry.2022; : 152358.     CrossRef
• Comparison of the Effectiveness of Individual and Group Play Therapy on Coping Behaviors in Primary School Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Elahe Nayebi, Reza Pasha, Saeed Bakhtiyarpour, Zahra Eftekhar Saadi
  Quarterly Journal of Child Mental Health.2020; 7(2): 120.     CrossRef

Background
We investigated whether offspring protect or jeopardize in parents.
Methods
We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging and performed a longitudinal analysis of 10,236 individuals at baseline (2006) to estimate the association between offspring-related factors and self-rated health among individuals ≥45 years of age.
Results
The estimate for self-rated health was 0.612 times lower (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.503–0.746; P<0.0001) for those with zero offspring. The estimate for self-rated health was 0.736 (95% CI, 0.635–0.853; P<0.0001) for those with five offspring or more. The estimate for self-rated health was 0.707 (95% CI, 0.528–0.947; P=0.020) for males with zero offspring. The estimate for self-rated health was 0.563 (95% CI, 0.422–0.751; P<0.001) for females with no offspring and for females with five or more offspring. The estimate for self-rated health was 0.686 times lower (95% CI, 0.573–0.822; P<0.0001) for those with five or more offspring compared to females with two offspring.
Conclusion
Those with more offspring (≥5) and those with no offspring tended to have an increased probability of low self-rated health. Overall, our results suggest that offspring have a significant positive effect on self-rated health, which was evident graphically as an inverted U-shape.

Citations

• Sleep problems, pain interference, and global subjective health outcome: Findings from a representative aging study in Ghana
  Razak M. Gyasi, Emmanuel Konadu, Priscilla Appiah, Desmond Agyei, Emmanuel Nyaaba, Michael Kwadwo Ntiamoah, Hubert Bimpeh Asiedu, Elizabeth Nana Mbrah Koomson-Yalley, Margaret Makafui Tayviah, Jones Opoku-Ware, André Hajek
  Geriatric Nursing.2025; 61: 73.     CrossRef
• Associations between vigorous physical activity, social ties, social support, and self-reported health among older adults in Accra, Ghana
  Nestor Asiamah, Kyriakos Kouveliotis, Richard Eduafo, Richard Borkey, Zulkarnain Jaafar
  PLOS Global Public Health.2023; 3(2): e0001582.     CrossRef
• KLoSA—Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2020; 41(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Association of employment status and income with self-rated health among waged workers with disabilities in South Korea: population-based panel study
  Jae Woo Choi, Juyeong Kim, Euna Han, Tae Hyun Kim
  BMJ Open.2019; 9(11): e032174.     CrossRef

Background
Many parents of overweight children have believed that their children's weight may be lost with the increase of their height. The purpose of this 2-year prospective study was to examine whether such belief is valid. Methods: A total of 190 children (113 boys and 77 girls) aged 6-11 years who were overweight (BMI > 85th percentile of age and gender-specifi c 1999 Korean children standard) from two elementary schools were the subjects. Their height and weight were measured again after 2 years. Children and their parents completed questionnaires on eating habits and physical activity, and their attitude on weight in the beginning of study. Children's weight status was evaluated using relative BMI. Results: Children's baseline relative BMI was 134.9 ± 13.8%. About 60% of the children reported weight loss attempt and 49% of their parents tried to persuade their child to lose weight. Children's BMI increased by 1.6 ± 2.1 kg/m2 and their relative BMI decreased by 1.2 ± 12.1% over 2 years. While children's eating habits and physical activity, and their attitude on the child's weight were not related to the 2-year relative BMI change, the child's age, gender, baseline relative BMI, and the 2-year height change were associated with the 2-year relative BMI change (R2 = 0.15, P < 0.001). The 2-year relative BMI increased with the 2-year height increase after controlling for the three predictors (B = 0.86, SE = 0.28, P = 0.002). Conclusion: We found the 2-year height change positively associated with the 2-year relative BMI change among schoolaged overweight children. Then, the belief that children's weight status may be improved with the increase of their height should be denied.

Citations

• Vitamin D deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adolescents: Based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (KNHANES)
  Ha Na Yoo, Hyeon Suk Kim
  Journal of the Korean Society of School Health.2016; 29(1): 22.     CrossRef

Background
This study was designed to find out the effect of school based obesity prevention intervention by considering the changes of BMI during both at the time of intervention and post-intervention. Methods: The research was conducted at an elementary school located in Busan metropolitan city, where we measured the height and weight of 260 students at baseline, 6 months after the initiation, and 6 months after the intervention. The students were classified into three weight groups of normal, overweight and obesity according to the age and sex-specific BMI. Results: The BMI decreased or maintained in 60% of the boys and 65% of the girls after the initial six months of the intervention, while after six months from the end of the intervention, BMI increased in 91% of the boys and 83% of the girls. The children's BMI significantly decreased during the intervention (P＜0.01), whereas it significantly increased post intervention (P＜0.05). In the logistic regression model including age, sex, initial BMI, and the follow-up status after the intervention, the increase of BMI by 1 unit was associated with 11% lower odds (95% CI 0.83∼0.98) for BMI decrease and maintenance. Likewise, the increase of age by 1 year was associated with 24% lower odds (95% CI 0.59∼0.98) for BMI decrease and maintenance. However, there was no significant predictors for BMI decrease and maintenance after the intervention. Conclusion: As the positive effect of this intervention for children is not consistent, the research should be more focused in finding out the effective method for prevention of obesity among elementary school children, as a better solution in the longrun. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:572-578)

Background
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the change of parental weight status and the change of their child's weight status over 2 years. Methods: A total of 379 children ages 11-13 years were measured their height and weight in 2001 and 2003. Their parents completed a questionnaire including self-reported parental weight and height during the same period. Parental weight status was classified as overweight (BMI≥25 kg/m²) and non-overweight (BMI＜25 kg/m²). Children's weight status was classified as overweight and non-overweight using the age and gender-specific BMI established by the Korean Academy of Pediatrics. The weight status over 2 years was categorized as a group of persistent overweight, persistent non-overweight, shifting overweight to non-overweight, and shifting non-overweight to overweight. Results: After adjusting for the child's gender and the father's weight status, the odds ratio for being persistently overweight over 2 years in a child having a mother with persistent overweight was 2.8 (95% CI: 0.9-8.5) compared to a child having a mother with persistent non-overweight. Likewise, the odds ratio for being persistently overweight over 2 years in a child having a father with persistent overweight was 2.9 (95% CI: 1.4-6.1) compared to the child having a father with persistent non-overweight. Conclusion: Parental weight status over 2 years was associated with the 2-year weight status in children. The parents- and family-based intervention are needed to prevent and manage childhood obesity. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:336-341)

Background
As obese population is increasing nowadays, research on blood pressure of obese children is being performed more frequently. However, there are only few research related to factors about blood pressure among obese children in Korea. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting blood pressure of obese children and adolescents. Methods: The subjects were elementary and middle school students diagnosed with obesity (n=1716). Height, weight, waist circumstance, body fat percent, blood pressure were measured. Family history and sexual maturity were investigated through the questionnaire. The relationship between the factors and the increase of blood pressure was analyzed. Results: Body weight was the most powerful factor among to factors related to increase of blood pressure (male r=0.45, P＜0.05, female r=0.37, P＜0.05). Also, height, percentage weight for height (PWH), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference was correlated with the blood pressure. In multiple regression analysis, family history of hypertension and the sexual maturity were significant determinants of blood pressure in males after adjusting for weight. However, body fat percent was a significant determinant in females. Conclusion: Body weight was the most important factor which increased the blood pressure in obese children and adolescents in both sexes. But males and females had different factors related to the increase of blood pressure with the exception of body weight. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:515-522)

Background
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a nonspecific, but sensitive marker of systemic immune response. Many studies have suggested that CRP levels are associated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors not only in adults, but also in children. We assessed the inter-relationships between CRP, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors in Korean children aged 7 years old. Methods: A total of 126 children (40 overweight and 86 normal weight children) were recruited from seven elementary schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Physical examinations including various obesity parameters were done. Fasting and post-prandial venous blood was withdrawn for the chemistry. The hsCRP was measured by the Nephelometry. Results: The hsCRP was associated with body weight, body fat (%), body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, hip circumferences and waist/hip ratio (P＜0.05). From the lowest to the highest quartile groups of hsCRP, mean fasting insulin levels (2.7⁑3.1μIU/mL, 2.6⁑2.1μIU/mL, 3.4⁑3.7μIU/mL, and 4.2⁑3.6μIU/mL, respectively)(P＜0.05) and HOMA-IR levels (0.60⁑0.70, 0.59⁑0.49, 0.74⁑0.84, and 0.95⁑0.83, respectively)(P＜0.05) increased. Serum lipid profiles were not associated with the hsCRP levels. Conclusion: In children aged 7 years old, the hsCRP was significantly associated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:509-514)

Background
The purpose of this study was to find the weight-related factors related to active attitude towards weight loss in children who are overweight or obese and their parents. Methods: A total of 252 elementary school children who were overweight or obese and their parents were surveyed on weight-related attitudes for one month in May 2003 in Kimhae. The definition of overweight and obesity was based on age and sex-specific Korean children's BMI references established in 1998. Results: Among the total, 64.5% of children and 76.4% of parents thought frequently about losing weight in children. Among the total, 52.8% of children and 47.6% of parents tried losing weight in children more than three times. In children, the factors related to frequent thoughts of losing weight were gender, body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction index, and the score of eating attitude (P＜0.05). Parents' thought about their children's losing weight and the efforts to persuade their children to lose weight were related to children's frequent thought about losing weight. The children's factors related to trying to lose weight by themselves were age, BMI, and the score of eating attitude. The parent's factors related to children trying to lose weight were body dissatisfaction index of their children by parents, parent's eating attitude score, parent's thought about children's losing weight and making efforts to persuade children to lose weight by parents. The children's eating attitude was related to frequent thoughts about losing weight (odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.03∼1.07) and trying to lose weight more than 3 times (odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.003∼1.04) after adjusting for other factors. Likewise, parents' effort to persuade their childrento lose weight was related to children's effort to lose weight (odds ratio 2.62, 95% CI 1.34∼5.1). Conclusion: Active attitude towards losing weight in overweight or obese children was related to parent's attitude to wards losing weight. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:179-186)

Background
: As the metabolic syndrome represents a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors,its prevention is very important. Especially, child and adolescent obesity and metabolic abnormalities track into adulthood and it may promote the development of the metabolic syndrome in adults. however, in Korea there are only few studies about the metabolic syndrome of children and adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of the metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents.

Methods : The Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHNS) 2001 was a nation representative survey with a stratified multistage sampling design. Data from a comprehensive questionnaire, physical examination, and blood sample were obtained from 1,090 Korean children and adolescents (567 boys, 523 girls), aged 10 to 19 years. The metabolic syndrome was determined by using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) definition modified for age.

Results : The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents was 7.1% (9.2% in boys, 4.8% in girls). The syndrome was present in 36.6% of overweight children and adolescents (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 95^th percentile) compared with 11.2% of at-risk children and adolescents (BMI 85^th to ＜95^th percentile) and 2.5% of those with a BMI below the 85th percentile (P＜0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model showed a significant increase in risk of the metabolic syndrome in association with gender and BMI.

Conclusion : Overall, 7.1% of children and adolescents and 36.6% of overweight children and adolescents in Korea met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome. These findings emphasize the need for both public health and clinical interventions to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of the metabolic syndrome, especially in obese children and adolescents.

Background
: Among the over-the-counter drugs, non-opioid analgesics are widely used in Korea. Non-opioid analgesics may have potential adverse effects such as side effects, tolerance, and addiction when used inappropriately. Moreover, children have less power to make a rational decisions than adults. Therefore, the role of parents in analgesic use is more and more important in children. This study was designed to investigate the frequency of use of analgesics in children and the behavior of parents administering them.

Methods : From April to May 2000, we collected questionnaires on the use of analgesics for relieving children's pain which were completed by parents from 3 elementary schools in Seoul. Student t-test and linear by linear test were applied to compare the difference between analgesic-administered group and non-administered group.

Results : The subjects were 630 parents among 702 respondents. Common reason for the parents to administer analgesics to their children were common cold, headache, abdominal pain etc. Pain severity were high in earache and fever and lower in abdominal pain and headache. Among the total 457(72.1%) parents were said to have kept analgesics at home. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen were the most common kept analgesics at home. Were more analgesic-keeping house likely to analgesics at home. Younger parents, younger children and mothers. Only 25.4% among those with analgesics at home gave analgesics during the last month. The administration rate was higher in the higher education levels(P<0.05), and increased linear by linear according to the number of house-keeping analgesics(P<0.05).

Conclusion : Seventy two percent of parents kept analgesics at home. But only a quarter of the parents gave analgesics to their children. The administration rate of analgesics in relieving pain in children by their parents was higher in the highly educated parents group and showed linear increase in proportion to the number of house-keeping analgesics.

Background
: Recently, the apartment complex is rapidly increasing as a new type of housing in a large city. So the purpose of the this survey is to research the experience rate of young children's allergic disease in an area of the apartment complex of a large city and to help the family medical doctor to diagnose and treat the young patients.

Methods : The experience rate of atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy was surveyed on June 1999 at an elementary school in a large apartment complex in Kwang-ju. The survey group were 832 students attending elementary school from the second to sixth grade. Also this survey was used to elicit information about the relationship between allergic disease and factors such as age, sex, birth history, family history, and home environment. For analysis of our finding, we have been used chi-square test.

Results : The survey shows that the experience rate of allergic disease is 40.4%. The experience rate of allergic disease was not related with sex, but the more ages the less experience rate. Allergic disease was not related with birth weight, gestational age, feeding method, use of carpet, breeding of pet, smoker in home, and the previous housing type. But experience rate of allergic disease was increased with positive family history.

Conclusion : General facts of allergic disease in elementary school children had no differentiation between large city and the other region. The experience rate of allergic disease is 40.4%.

Background
: Recently, childhood obesity has been increasing steeply. many obese children have complications and high risks to become obese as adults. Therefore, we performed this study to assess childhood obesity in Kwangju area.

Methods : We examined 11,039 children (boys: 5,547, girls: 5,492) of ages 6-12 years. We defined obesity as more than 97th percentile of weight at each height. We also examined the degree of obesity by comparing with standard weight, which is defined as more than 20% above the standard weight for height. We identified four groups according to the degree of obesity. The ranges for each group was as follows : obesity at from 20% above the standard weight for height, mild obesity at 30% below and 20% above the standard weight for height, and moderate obesity at 50% below and 30% above the standard weight for height, and severe obesity at 50% above the standard weight for height.

Results : The prevalence of obesity that exceeded the weight centiles at each height by more than 97th percentile was 12.17%. The prevalence of obesity that exceeded the standard weight for height by more than 20% was 13.31%. Among them, 8.02% were mild obesity, 4.44% were moderate obesity and 0.84% were severe obesity.

Conclusion : Recently, the frequency of childhood obesity goes high in our society. We now know that obesity is a risk factor for some diseases, and therefore, more effective approaches should be developed treat and prevent childhood obesity.

Background
: The goals of this study are to investigate the propensity to depression and anxiety in children, and also, to investigate its relationship to the family structure, their life events, and school achievement. We have attempted to aid the continuous and comprehensive management of children with depression and anxiety in a field of family practice.

Methods : A group of 797 boys and girls in 5th and 6th were selected grades a elementary school in their, in the area of II-san and In-cheon city in August, 1997. Making use of the Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory(CDI, 1977) and the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children(STAIC, 1973), we investigated the propensity to depression and anxiety by self-rating. At the same time, the general characteristics(gender, age, residence, family structure), life events(death single parent, divorced family, death of a sibling, family discord between husband), and school achievement were investigated and assessed their relationship.

Results : The Children's Depression Inventory score was 11.69, the State Anxiety Inventory score was 31.51, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory score was 31.49. The CDI score were significantly higher in females, sixth year students, residents except for those living in an apartment or villa, and low school achievement group(P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no significance between CDI score and age, whether or not a dual-income family, death of a sib, hospitalization within 6 months, and family discord between husband and wife. The STAIC score was significantly higher for old age, female, sixth year students, and low school achievement group(p<0.01), and there was no significance between the STAIC score and residence, whether or not a dual-income family, death of a sibling, hospitalization within 6 months, and family discord between husband and wife.

Conclusion : According to our results, there was a significant correlation between gender, school years, school achievement and a propensity to depression and anxiety. Therefore, family physician should be more involved in family intervention and anticipatory guidance upon medical examination and treatment, if he or she has symptoms of anxiety and depression.