South Korea - Obstetric Clinics Drop by 1/3 - Risks for Rural Pregnant Women

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Pregnant women in rural areas face worries over and above the usual ones concerning delivery and health of their newborns

Fifty-six of the nation's 88 counties lack maternity hospitals, according to the Health Insurance Review Agency yesterday.

The number of maternity hospitals and clinics stood at 1,570 nationwide in 2001, but dropped a third, to 972 this year, according to the agency.

North Kyongsang Province was the worst case with 12 of its 13 counties lacking such facilities.

``Following the decreasing birthrate, many obstetric and gynecological hospitals and clinics have closed, especially in rural regions where young people have left for the cities and the elderly population is large,'' said a staff member of the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Of those clinics and hospitals that still operate many provide only examinations, not facilities and services for childbirth.

Consequently, pregnant women in rural regions are often forced to travel to large city hospitals to give birth. In North Kyongsang Province, 3,700 women living in counties gave birth to babies at nearby cities last year.

Pregnant women have to decide whether to receive regular checkups during pregnancy at hospitals in their region and give birth to babies in nearby cities at the time of childbirth, or to have both the checkup and birth in neighboring cities.

Having checkups and delivery at the same hospital is better for them, but traveling to nearby cities for checkups is not easy.

Moreover, those living on small islands without obstetric clinics should get to mainland about one week before their expected date of delivery, to avoid risking being late after going into labor.

If they cannot make it to hospital in time, they may suffer from toxemia of pregnancy or excessive bleeding.

``In obstetrics death can happen in emergency cases, sometimes requiring large compensation payments on the part of hospitals, which is another reason that doctors sometimes shun the medical field and hospitals shun delivery,'' the staff member said.

He added the nation should respond to the unfavorable scenario by obliging public health centers in rural areas to have obstetricians.

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South Korea:Obstetric Clinics Drop by One-Third
	By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter Pregnant women in rural areas face worries over and above the usual ones concerning delivery and health of their newborns Fifty-six of the nation's 88 counties lack maternity hospitals, according to the Health Insurance Review Agency yesterday. The number of maternity hospitals and clinics stood at 1,570 nationwide in 2001, but dropped a third, to 972 this year, according to the agency. North Kyongsang Province was the worst case with 12 of its 13 counties lacking such facilities. ``Following the decreasing birthrate, many obstetric and gynecological hospitals and clinics have closed, especially in rural regions where young people have left for the cities and the elderly population is large,'' said a staff member of the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Of those clinics and hospitals that still operate many provide only examinations, not facilities and services for childbirth. Consequently, pregnant women in rural regions are often forced to travel to large city hospitals to give birth. In North Kyongsang Province, 3,700 women living in counties gave birth to babies at nearby cities last year. Pregnant women have to decide whether to receive regular checkups during pregnancy at hospitals in their region and give birth to babies in nearby cities at the time of childbirth, or to have both the checkup and birth in neighboring cities. Having checkups and delivery at the same hospital is better for them, but traveling to nearby cities for checkups is not easy. Moreover, those living on small islands without obstetric clinics should get to mainland about one week before their expected date of delivery, to avoid risking being late after going into labor. If they cannot make it to hospital in time, they may suffer from toxemia of pregnancy or excessive bleeding. ``In obstetrics death can happen in emergency cases, sometimes requiring large compensation payments on the part of hospitals, which is another reason that doctors sometimes shun the medical field and hospitals shun delivery,'' the staff member said. He added the nation should respond to the unfavorable scenario by obliging public health centers in rural areas to have obstetricians. __________________________________________________________________