Lee I Re, Lee Hae Won, Jung Hanna, Han Songyi, An Shinki, Jeon Woo Taek
Department of Medical Education, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Arch Public Health. 2025 Mar 21;83(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s13690-025-01547-x.
This 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.
We 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.
Our 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.
North 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.
本研究分析了朝鲜医学期刊报道的朝鲜儿科疾病研究趋势状况。尽管朝鲜政府实施审查和管控，但这些期刊提供了有关实际成果和疾病病例的关键见解，是了解朝鲜健康状况的重要数据来源。
我们回顾了2006年至2019年出版的10种朝鲜医学期刊，特别针对《儿科学》《妇产科学》《外科学》和《朝鲜医学》等期刊。从最初的7739篇文章中，选出728篇儿科研究文章进行深入分析。我们根据出版年份、领域、文章类型、研究方法、统计方法和内容对文章进行分类。儿科疾病采用《国际疾病分类》第十版进行分类。我们还调查了时间变化，特别是在金正日时代和金正恩时代之间的变化。
我们对朝鲜医学期刊上的儿科研究文章分析表明，文章格式一致且简短，经常包含执政当局的指示，且缺乏伦理讨论。值得注意的是，未报道流行病学研究和随机对照试验。研究重点在于实际应用，涉及高负担疾病和传统药物的治疗效果。我们的分布分析显示，先天性畸形（16.2%）、传染病（12.6%）、呼吸道疾病（11.2%）和胃肠道疾病（10.9%）是研究最频繁的主题，反映了朝鲜儿童死亡的主要原因。在金正恩时代，儿科研究的数量和多样性显著增加，这与经济状况改善以及对科技政策的重视增加相吻合。
朝鲜儿科研究呈现出独特而实用的特点，且随着时间推移有多样性和数量增加的趋势。我们的研究结果凸显了朝鲜儿科学正在进行的自主发展，这可能对该国未来的儿科研究产生积极影响。了解这些研究趋势对于制定改善朝鲜儿童健康的策略至关重要。
