Analysis of Research Status on Disease of Women and Children in North Korea: Literature Analysis Through Academic Journals

Abstract

Purpose: Since the division of the Korean Peninsula into South and North Korea in 1948, the gaps in the medical system and the socioeconomic status between these 2 countries has expanded. The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution of different areas of research, as well as the types of research that was conducted in the North Korean medical journal, ‘Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology.’ This study aimed to specifically investigate the medical research status of healthcare in women and children.Methods: This study analyzed a total of 949 papers that were published in the North Korean medical journal, ‘Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology.’ Papers from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. For the analysis, the 8th Korean Standard Classification of Diseases, disease name, subspecialty classification, and research classifications were extracted from the papers.Result: Of the 949 papers included in the analysis, 495, 366, and 88 studies were conducted in the major fields of obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and on breast surgery, respectively. Within the field of obstetrics and gynecology, the most studied subspecialties were maternal and fetal medicine, general gynecology, and gynecologic oncology. To a lesser extent, the following subspecialties were reported: gynecologic endocrinology (6.7%), infertility (6.3%), and urogynecology (approximately 1%).Conclusion: Although North Korean papers differ from those published worldwide (due to government intervention), they are still a useful source of information as they are easier to access than alternative data sources. The results from this study have implications for understanding the distribution of research on different areas of healthcare, as well as the burden of healthcare in North Korea.