Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives最新文献

{"title":"The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare utilization in Iran: evidence from an interrupted time series analysis.","authors":"Monireh Mahmoodpour-Azari,&nbsp;Satar Rezaei,&nbsp;Nasim Badiee,&nbsp;Mohammad Hajizadeh,&nbsp;Ali Mohammadi,&nbsp;Ali Kazemi-Karyani,&nbsp;Shahin Soltani,&nbsp;Mehdi Khezeli","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0041","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on the hospitalization rate, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient clinic visits in western Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected data on the monthly hospitalization rate, rate of patients referred to the ED, and rate of patients referred to outpatient clinics for a period of 40 months (23 months before and 17 months after the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran) from all 7 public hospitals in the city of Kermanshah. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the outcome variables in this study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant decrease of 38.11 hospitalizations per 10,000 population (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.93-51.29) was observed in the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak. The corresponding reductions in ED visits and outpatient visits per 10,000 population were 191.65 (95% CI, 166.63-216.66) and 168.57 (95% CI, 126.41-210.73), respectively. After the initial reduction, significant monthly increases in the hospitalization rate (an increase of 1.81 per 10,000 population), ED visits (an increase of 2.16 per 10,000 population), and outpatient clinic visits (an increase of 5.77 per 10,000 population) were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that the utilization of outpatient and inpatient services in hospitals and clinics significantly declined after the COVID-19 outbreak, and use of these services did not return to pre-outbreak levels as of June 2021.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"180-187"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8e/25/j-phrp-2023-0041.PMC10522821.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating the number of severe COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related deaths averted by a nationwide vaccination campaign in Republic of Korea.","authors":"Ji Hae Hwang,&nbsp;Ju Hee Lee,&nbsp;Eun Jung Jang,&nbsp;Ryu Kyung Kim,&nbsp;Kil Hun Lee,&nbsp;Seon Kyeong Park,&nbsp;Sang Eun Lee,&nbsp;Chungman Chae,&nbsp;Sangwon Lee,&nbsp;Young Joon Park","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0096","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency promotes vaccination by regularly providing information on its benefits for reducing the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to analyze the number of averted severe COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related deaths by age group and quantify the impact of Republic of Korea's nationwide vaccination campaign.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed an integrated database from the beginning of the vaccination campaign on February 26, 2021 to October 15, 2022. We estimated the cumulative number of severe cases and COVID-19-related deaths over time by comparing observed and estimated cases among unvaccinated and vaccinated groups using statistical modeling. We compared daily age-adjusted rates of severe cases and deaths in the unvaccinated group to those in the vaccinated group and calculated the susceptible population and proportion of vaccinated people by age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 23,793 severe cases and 25,441 deaths related to COVID-19. We estimated that 119,579 (95% confidence interval [CI], 118,901-120,257) severe COVID-19 cases and 137,636 (95% CI, 136,909-138,363) COVID-19-related deaths would have occurred if vaccination had not been performed. Therefore, 95,786 (95% CI, 94,659-96,913) severe cases and 112,195 (95% CI, 110,870-113,520) deaths were prevented as a result of the vaccination campaign.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We found that, if the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign had not been implemented, the number of severe cases and deaths would have been at least 4 times higher. These findings suggest that Republic of Korea's nationwide vaccination campaign reduced the number of severe cases and COVID-19 deaths.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"164-172"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8e/74/j-phrp-2023-0096.PMC10522830.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9796207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Results of contact tracing for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75) and the household secondary attack risk.","authors":"Mi Yu,&nbsp;Sang-Eun Lee,&nbsp;Hye Young Lee,&nbsp;Hye-Jin Kim,&nbsp;Yeong-Jun Song,&nbsp;Jian Jeong,&nbsp;Ae Kyung Park,&nbsp;Il-Hwan Kim,&nbsp;Eun-Jin Kim,&nbsp;Young-Joon Park","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0285","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to assess the contact tracing outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron sub-lineages BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75 within Republic of Korea, and to generate foundational data for responding to future novel variants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted investigations and contact tracing for 79 confirmed BA.4 cases, 396 confirmed BA.5 cases, and 152 confirmed BA.2.75 cases. These cases were identified through random sampling of both domestically confirmed and imported cases, with the goal of evaluating the pattern of occurrence and transmissibility.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We detected 79 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.4 across a span of 46 days, 396 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 in 46 days, and 152 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2.75 over 62 days. One patient with severe illness was confirmed among the BA.5 cases; however, there were no reports of severe illness in the confirmed BA.4 and BA.2.75 cases. The secondary attack risk among household contacts were 19.6% for BA.4, 27.8% for BA.5, and 24.3% for BA.2.75. No statistically significant difference was found between the Omicron sub-lineages.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BA.2.75 did not demonstrate a higher tendency for transmissibility, disease severity, or secondary attack risk within households when compared to BA.4 and BA.5. We will continue to monitor major SARS-CoV-2 variants, and we plan to enhance the disease control and response systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"173-179"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/94/2b/j-phrp-2022-0285.PMC10522828.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Honam region of the Republic of Korea.","authors":"In-Sook Shin,&nbsp;Yong-Pyo Lee,&nbsp;Seung-Hoon Lee,&nbsp;Jae-Young Lee,&nbsp;Jong-Ha Park,&nbsp;Yoon-Seok Chung","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0308","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In 2021, the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine was analyzed among people living in the Honam region (Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeju) of the Republic of Korea. And we investigated changes in the dominant virus strain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used the data provided by the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety for individuals ≥12 years old in the Honam region, and the Integrated Disease and Health Management System of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for COVID-19-vaccinated individuals as of December 31, 2021. Statistical analyzes were performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. The occurrence of confirmed cases by vaccination status, the relative risk, and vaccine effectiveness by vaccine type were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Honam was 88.6%. The overall vaccine effectiveness (after 2 and 3 doses) was 98.7% (p<0.001). and the breakthrough infection rate was 0.16%. From week 21 to week 27 of 2021 (June 27 to July 3), the genome sequencing results were mostly alpha variants. The Delta variant emerged as the dominant variant after 27 weeks and the Omicron variant was found at 50 weeks (December 5-11).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Vaccine effectiveness changed with the outbreak of new variants of the virus as well as over time as antibody levels decreased. that the prevention effectiveness of vaccination in Honam was >98%, and the effect among persons who received 2 doses was >90% regardless of the vaccine type. Although vaccine effectiveness decreased because of reduced antibody levels over time (as observed in breakthrough infections), receiving a booster dose restored the neutralizing antibody levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"197-206"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/0b/81/j-phrp-2022-0308.PMC10522824.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors for COVID-19 outbreaks in livestock slaughtering and processing facilities in Republic of Korea.","authors":"Seongju Choi,&nbsp;Tae Jong Son,&nbsp;Yeon-Kyung Lee","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0035","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The goal of this study was to help prevent and control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by identifying transmission routes and risk factors in livestock slaughtering and processing facilities (SPFs) and establishing an optimal intervention strategy for outbreaks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case series study was a demographic analysis of patients with confirmed COVID-19 associated with 5 SPFs in Korea between January and June 2021. Additionally, in a retrospective cohort study, the association between COVID-19 infection and risk factors was analyzed for SPFs at which outbreaks occurred.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The COVID-19 attack rates were 11.2%, 24.5%, and 6.8% at 3 poultry SPFs (PSPFs) and 15.5% and 25.2% at 2 mammal SPFs (MSPFs). Regarding spatial risk factors, the COVID-19 risk levels were 12.1-, 5.2-, and 5.0-fold higher in the refrigeration/ freezing, by-product processing, and carcass cutting areas, respectively, than in the office area. The risk of COVID-19 infection was 2.1 times higher among employees of subcontractors than among employees of contractors. The COVID-19 risk levels were 5.3- and 3.0-fold higher in foreign workers than in native Korean workers in the PSPFs and MSPFs, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, a detailed policy for infectious disease prevention and control intervention is needed, without interrupting economic activities. Thus, we propose an ideal intervention plan to prevent COVID-19 through disinfection and preemptive testing and to block its transmission through effective contact management during outbreaks at SPFs.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"207-218"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/a5/83/j-phrp-2023-0035.PMC10522823.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10182364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlations between regional characteristics of counties and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty sources of COVID-19 in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea.","authors":"Seungmin Jeong,&nbsp;Chaeyun Lim,&nbsp;Sunhak Bae,&nbsp;Youngju Nam,&nbsp;Eunmi Kim,&nbsp;Myeonggi Kim,&nbsp;Saerom Kim,&nbsp;Yeojin Kim","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0014","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to examine the correlations between the regional characteristics of counties in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty sources of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The region of the infectious contact was analysed for each COVID-19 case reported in Gangwon Province between February 22, 2020 and February 7, 2022. The population, population density, area, the proportion of urban residents, the proportion of older adults (>65 years), financial independence, and the number of adjacent counties were assessed for each of the 18 counties in Gangwon Province. Correlation coefficients between regional characteristics and the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 19,645 cases were included in this study. The population, population density, proportion of older adults, and proportion of urban residents were significantly correlated with the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections. A stratified analysis with an age cut-point of 65 years showed that the proportion of older adults had a significant negative correlation with the ratio of intracounty to extracounty infections. In other words, the proportions of extracounty infections were higher in countries with higher proportions of older adults.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Regions with ageing populations should carefully observe trends in infectious disease outbreaks in other regions to prevent possible transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 3","pages":"219-223"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5a/a6/j-phrp-2023-0014.PMC10522826.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"To become a more stronger and safer country.","authors":"Jong-Koo Lee","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0105","url":null,"abstract":"suggest that we are progressively emerging from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 2","pages":"67-69"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ee/96/j-phrp-2023-0105.PMC10211454.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9577099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The incidence and clinical characteristics of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination in Republic of Korea adolescents from July 2021 to September 2022.","authors":"Ju-Young Sim, Seung-Yun Kim, Eun-Kyoung Kim","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0032","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Age-specific information regarding myocarditis/pericarditis in adolescents following mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in Asia remains insufficient. This study investigated the incidence and clinical characteristics of myocarditis/pericarditis in Republic of Korea adolescents after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective descriptive study utilized patient data from the Korea Immunization Management System. Incidence rates were calculated according to age and sex. Clinical characteristics (symptoms/signs, laboratory values, and imaging results) were compared between mild and severe cases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between July 19, 2021 and September 30, 2022, 3,728,224 individuals aged 12 to 19 years received 6,484,165 mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, and 173 cases met the case definition for myocarditis/pericarditis: 151 mild (87.3%) and 22 severe (12.7%). The incidence was 3.8-fold higher in males than in females. Troponin I/ troponin T was elevated in 96% of myocarditis cases, demonstrating higher sensitivity than creatine kinase-myocardial band (67.6%) or C-reactive protein (75.2%). ST-segment or Twave on electrography abnormalities were found in 60.3% (85/141). Paroxysmal/sustained atrial/ventricular arrhythmias were more common in severe than in mild cases (45.5% vs. 16.8%, p=0.008). Edema on T2-weighted magnetic imaging occurred in 21.6% (8/37) and 62.5% (5/8) of mild and severe cases, respectively (p=0.03). Abnormal pericardial fluid collection or pericardial inflammation was found in 75.4% of pericarditis cases (49/65).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Myocarditis/pericarditis occurred in rare cases following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination. Most cases were mild, but the incidence was higher in adolescent males and after the second dose. As bivalent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccination started in Republic of Korea in October 2022, the post-vaccination incidence of myocarditis/pericarditis should be closely monitored, considering clinical characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 2","pages":"76-88"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/cd/69/j-phrp-2023-0032.PMC10211448.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9577102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of pregnant women with critically severe COVID-19 in Republic of Korea from February 2020 and December 2021.","authors":"Ji Joo Lee, Sang-Eun Lee, Yeonjung Kim, Young-Joon Park","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0025","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to describe the characteristics and risk factors for severe disease in pregnant women infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic in Korea to the predominant period of the Delta variant.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 2020 and December 2021. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare severe and mild cases after adjusting for pregnant women's age, nationality, infection route, outbreak area, infection period, symptoms, underlying disease, smoking status, trimester, and COVID-19 vaccination status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 2,233 pregnant women were diagnosed with COVID-19 by December 2021. Among these, 96.7% had mild symptoms, 3.3% had severe symptoms, and 0.04% died. The risk factors for severe disease in pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 were being in the age group of 35 to 45 years, having hyperlipidemia, being in the second or third trimester of pregnancy at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, being infected during the Delta-predominant period, and having a fever (≥38 °C) at diagnosis. Furthermore, 47.1% of patients in the mild group and 84.9% of patients in the severe group had 3 or more risk factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pregnant women with COVID-19 mainly experienced mild symptoms, but those with risk factors were at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Therefore, treatment and follow-up management should be thoroughly implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 2","pages":"129-137"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ab/00/j-phrp-2023-0025.PMC10211450.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9526204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 outbreak in a religious village community in Republic of Korea and risk factors for transmission.","authors":"Jiae Shim, Eunju Lee, Eunyoung Kim, Yeonhwa Choi, Giseok Kang, Bryan Inho Kim","doi":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0002","DOIUrl":"10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to assess the scale and transmission patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a religious village community in South Korea, to determine the risk factors of transmission, and to evaluate vaccine effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An epidemiological survey was conducted, and data were collected and analyzed from 602 villagers in the religious village community. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for COVID-19 transmission and to evaluate vaccine effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The outbreak attack rate was 72.1% (434/602). The attack rate was high among women in their 60s, the unemployed, residents living near religious facility (<500 m), and the unvaccinated. Age, the distance between religious facility and residences, and the absence of vaccination were identified as risk factors for transmission. Vaccine effectiveness was 49.0%, and the highest effectiveness was seen in the age group of 59 years or younger (65.8%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This village community was isolated, with little communication with the outside world. However, the frequency of close contact between residents was relatively high, contributing to the spread of COVID-19 in the village even with relatively short exposure. Vaccination rates in the village community were also lower than those in the general public. Public health authorities should consider the potential impact of cultural factors, including religion, that could lead to the exponential spread of COVID-19 in closed village communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":38949,"journal":{"name":"Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives","volume":"14 2","pages":"110-118"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/29/c8/j-phrp-2023-0002.PMC10211447.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9526205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}