Comparison of Health Behaviors of Adult Women in Korea Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Secondary Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2020

Overview

Journal Korean J Women Health Nurs

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Nursing

Date 2022 Nov 20

PMID 36403574

Authors

Mijong Kim

Hyunju Chae

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the changes in the health-related behaviors of adult women in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: Data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019- 2020) were analyzed. The participants were 4,848 women aged 19 to 64 years in 2019 and 2020. Data analysis using the complex sampling design was performed using SPSS 20.1.

Results: Positive changes during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic in Korean adult women were found for improved subjective oral health perceptions (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; p<.001), increased moderate-intensity exercise in work and leisure activities (OR, 1.75; p<.001 and OR; 1.29, p=.004), and a decrease in secondhand smoke exposure at the workplace and in public places (OR, 0.64; p=.004 and OR, 0.60; p<.001). However, the following negative health behavior changes were found: decreased frequency of walking 5 days a week (OR, 0.81; p=.011) and an increase in unhealthy daytime sleep durations (OR, 1.40; p=006).

Conclusion: Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean adult women perceived their subjective dental health more positively during the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased their exposure to secondhand smoke at work and in public places, decreased walking, and increased sleep duration during the week. Since this study only compared data between 1 year before and after the start of the pandemic, it is necessary to investigate a longer period of time in the future. A future study should attempt to identify the factors related to changes in health behaviors caused by the pandemic.

References

Dwyer M, Pasini M, De Dominicis S, Righi E . Physical activity: Benefits and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020; 30(7):1291-1294. PMC: 7323175. DOI: 10.1111/sms.13710. View

Bambra C, Albani V, Franklin P . COVID-19 and the gender health paradox. Scand J Public Health. 2020; 49(1):17-26. PMC: 7859577. DOI: 10.1177/1403494820975604. View

Castaneda-Babarro A, Arbillaga-Etxarri A, Gutierrez-Santamaria B, Coca A . Physical Activity Change during COVID-19 Confinement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(18). PMC: 7558959. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186878. View

Sallis J, Adlakha D, Oyeyemi A, Salvo D . An international physical activity and public health research agenda to inform coronavirus disease-2019 policies and practices. J Sport Health Sci. 2020; 9(4):328-334. PMC: 7243764. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.05.005. View

Llop-Girones A, Vracar A, Llop-Girones G, Benach J, Angeli-Silva L, Jaimez L . Employment and working conditions of nurses: where and how health inequalities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic?. Hum Resour Health. 2021; 19(1):112. PMC: 8444178. DOI: 10.1186/s12960-021-00651-7. View

Pereira M . Researching gender inequalities in academic labor during the COVID-19 pandemic: Avoiding common problems and asking different questions. Gend Work Organ. 2021; 28(Suppl 2):498-509. PMC: 8013659. DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12618. View

Kashyap V, Dhasmana A, Massey A, Kotnala S, Zafar N, Jaggi M . Smoking and COVID-19: Adding Fuel to the Flame. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(18). PMC: 7555793. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186581. View

Oberg M, Jaakkola M, Woodward A, Peruga A, Pruss-Ustun A . Worldwide burden of disease from exposure to second-hand smoke: a retrospective analysis of data from 192 countries. Lancet. 2010; 377(9760):139-46. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61388-8. View

Choi J . COVID-19 in South Korea. Postgrad Med J. 2020; 96(1137):399-402. PMC: 10016831. DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137738. View

10.

Oberndorfer M, Dorner T, Brunnmayr M, Berger K, Dugandzic B, Bach M . Health-related and socio-economic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vienna. Health Soc Care Community. 2021; 30(4):1550-1561. PMC: 8444637. DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13485. View

11.

Prowse R, Sherratt F, Abizaid A, Gabrys R, Hellemans K, Patterson Z . Coping With the COVID-19 Pandemic: Examining Gender Differences in Stress and Mental Health Among University Students. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:650759. PMC: 8058407. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.650759. View

12.

Chu D, Akl E, Duda S, Solo K, Yaacoub S, Schunemann H . Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2020; 395(10242):1973-1987. PMC: 7263814. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9. View

13.

Farah B, do Prado W, Malik N, Lofrano-Prado M, de Melo P, Botero J . Barriers to physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in adults: a cross-sectional study. Sport Sci Health. 2021; 17(2):441-447. PMC: 7998080. DOI: 10.1007/s11332-020-00724-5. View

14.

Proto E, Quintana-Domeque C . COVID-19 and mental health deterioration by ethnicity and gender in the UK. PLoS One. 2021; 16(1):e0244419. PMC: 7787387. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244419. View

15.

Varma P, Junge M, Meaklim H, Jackson M . Younger people are more vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A global cross-sectional survey. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2020; 109:110236. PMC: 7834119. DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110236. View

16.

Allen S, Julian Z, Coyne-Beasley T, Erwin P, Fletcher F . COVID-19's Impact on Women: A Stakeholder-Engagement Approach to Increase Public Awareness Through Virtual Town Halls. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2020; 26(6):534-538. DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001249. View

17.

Cellini N, Canale N, Mioni G, Costa S . Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. J Sleep Res. 2020; 29(4):e13074. PMC: 7235482. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13074. View

18.

Ekelund U, Tarp J, Steene-Johannessen J, Hansen B, Jefferis B, Fagerland M . Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019; 366:l4570. PMC: 6699591. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l4570. View

19.

Lima M, Barros M, Ceolim M, Zancanella E, Cardoso T . Sleep duration, health status, and subjective well-being: a population-based study. Rev Saude Publica. 2018; 52:82. PMC: 6122876. DOI: 10.11606/S1518-8787.2018052000602. View

20.

Gao C, Scullin M . Sleep health early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States: integrating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and retrospective recall data. Sleep Med. 2020; 73:1-10. PMC: 7320269. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.06.032. View