J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2022 Jul;26(3):140-145. 10.21896/jksmch.2022.26.3.140.

North Korean Children's Health and the Role of Maternal and Child Health Experts

• KMID: 2532470
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2022.26.3.140

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the health indicators and nutritional status of North Korean children have improved steadily since 2010. However, malnutrition remains a serious condition, with 19.1% of children stunted. in addition, although the nutritional status of North Korean refugee children has gradually improved since they settled in South Korea, a rapid increase in obesity rates has put them under a double burden of malnutrition and obesity. For the health of North Korean children who are at risk because of the recent rapid increase in coronavirus disease 2019 cases in North Korea, maternal and child health experts should work together to request immediate humanitarian assistance from the international community and the South Korean government. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop a maternal and child health program in preparation for the resumption of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation in the future.

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Change in nutritional status in North Korean children. a Nutrition survey of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 1998, b Report of the second multiple indicator cluster survey 2000, c Report on the DPRK Nutrition Assessment 2002, d DPRK 2004 Nutrition Assess ment Report of Survey Results, e DPRK Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2009: final report, f Democratic People's Republic of Korea Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012, g DPR Korea Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2017: survey findings report, h Democratic People's Republic of Korea voluntary national review on the implementation of the 2030 agenda.

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