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34 HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE REVIEW, Summer 1998, Vol. 18, N° 1
A study of family life cycle of Korean women.
The aim of this study is to review the change of life cycle of Korean women during the past three decades, to identify the change of family life and their welfare needs, and finally to provide family welfare policy directions by life cycle stages. The study analyzed the result of the 1997 National Fertility and Family Health Survey targetting 5,722 currently married women aged 15 to 49 with birth delivery experience. The analytic framework employed in this study is based on "The Basic Model of Nuclear Family Life Cycle" proposed by WHO.
According to the analysis, the family formation period and extension period grew gradually shorter, while the completed extension period grew longer. Further, the family contraction period grew shorter, while the family completed contraction period grew longer, which is found especially among the young group. The family dissolution period, the last step of the family life cycle has grown longer in the past, but has started to grow shorter recently.
As support measures for women in the former stage of the life cycle, there should be activation of the reemployment system and extension of child care services. The prolonging of the latter stage of the life cycle will increase the need for comprehensive and gender-sensitive welfare services for the elderly. Since the time spent together for a couple on their own is prolonged after old-age, various programs for old couples should be developed at recreation centers and social education centers.
Korean - pp. 56-79.
(KOREA, LIFE CYCLE, FAMILY LIFE CYCLE, WOMEN, SOCIAL POLICY.)
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34 HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE REVIEW, Winter 1998, Vol. 18, N( 2
Analysis of induced abortion behavior based on the sex composition of children.
In 1997, the number of induced abortions was 230,000 of which about 80% were illegally performed. When the induced abortions of adolescents are taken into consideration, its number becomes much greater. Induced abortion not only induces social cost but also deteriorates the reproductive health of women and thereby has a negative impact on future generations.
According to this analysis, the rate of acquired infertility was greater for women who have experienced induced abortions than for those who have not. Specifically, the lower the order of pregnancy in which the women aborted, the higher the rates of pregnancy wastage and acquired infertility. Induced abortions of prenuptial conception are being repeatedly performed. The major determinants of performing an induced abortion were the number and sex composition of living children, but other socio-economic factors appear to have a significant effect on the performance of induced abortion, also.
In order to reduce the number of abortions and thereby reduce social costs and, at the same time, to improve the reproductive health of women, first, the number of unwanted pregnancies should be reduced; second, the number of induced abortions performed to solve unwanted pregnancies should be reduced; and third, prevention of repeated induced abortions should be reinforced.
Korean - pp. 83-105.
(KOREA, INDUCED ABORTION, PUBLIC HEALTH, WOMEN, FEMALE STERILITY, UNWANTED PREGNANCY.)
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Problem issues of single-parent male-headed families and its policy measures.
There has recently been a rise in the number of single-parent male-headed families with the increase in divorce, industrial accidents and traffic accidents, etc. in Korea society. In the near future, the number of single-parent male-headed families will continuously increase along with the improvement of women's status and the increasing divorce rate. This trend will result in a social problem that will affect both single-parent male-headed families and social institutions themselves. The main objectives of this study are first to identify the current state of single-parent male-headed families and then to suggest policy measures. The author recommends various political measurements for the resolution of the problems related to the families without mother.
Korean - pp. 106-135.
(KOREA, ONE-PARENT FAMILY, FATHER, SOCIAL POLICY.)
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