ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2025
Research trends in pediatric diseases in North Korea: a scoping review of North Korean medical journals, 2006-2019.
Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study analyzed the status of research trends in pediatric diseases in North Korea, as reported in North Korean medical journals. Despite the censorship and control exerted by the North Korean government, these journals provide critical insights into practical achievements and disease cases, serving as vital data sources for understanding North Korea's health landscape.
methodsWe reviewed 10 North Korean medical journals published from 2006 to 2019, specifically targeting the journals Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Surgery; and Chosun Medicine. From an initial pool of 7,739 articles, 728 pediatric research articles were selected for in-depth analysis. We categorized the articles according to publication year, field, article type, research method, statistical approach, and content. Pediatric diseases were classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. We additionally investigated temporal changes, particularly between the Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un eras.
resultsOur analysis of pediatric research articles from North Korean medical journals demonstrated a consistent format and brevity, with the frequent inclusion of the ruling authority's directives and a lack of ethical discussion. Notably, epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials were not reported. The research focused instead on practical applications, addressing high-burden diseases and the therapeutic effects of traditional medicines. Our distribution analysis revealed that congenital malformations (16.2%), infectious diseases (12.6%), respiratory diseases (11.2%), and gastrointestinal diseases (10.9%) were the most frequently studied topics, reflecting the primary causes of pediatric mortality in North Korea. A significant increase in the volume and diversity of pediatric research was observed during the Kim Jong-un era, coinciding with improved economic conditions and an increased emphasis on science and technology policies.
conclusionsNorth Korean pediatric research exhibits distinct and practical characteristics, with trends of increasing diversity and volume over time. Our findings highlight the ongoing autonomous development of pediatric medicine in North Korea, which could have positive implications for future pediatric research in the country. Understanding these research trends is essential for developing strategies to improve children's health in North Korea.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.