Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Special Article

The Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster in Korea: Implications for Preventive Medicine and Public Health: Sue K. Park, Woojin Lim, Dong-Wook Lee, Mina Ha, Chang Hyun Lee, Hae-Kwan Cheong; J Prev Med Public Health. 2026;59(4):337-342. Published online July 21, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.26.248

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Abstract Summary PDF: The humidifier disinfectant disaster in Korea was one of the most severe environmental health disasters of recent decades. It showed that indoor household chemical products used in daily life can cause fatal health effects at the population level when inhalation risks are not adequately assessed before marketing. The disaster also reaffirmed the central role of epidemiology in detecting emerging environmental health threats and guiding public health responses. Fifteen years after the disaster was recognized, major challenges remain, including defining the full spectrum of health damage, providing compensation, and ensuring long-term support. The Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants, fully amended in 2026, represents an important institutional advance. By explicitly defining the joint liability of the state and relevant companies, the amended Act reflects a shift toward a more public, state-administered system of compensation and health support. This disaster also highlights the roles of public health professionals in generating epidemiological evidence on delayed or newly recognized diseases and sequelae, applying that evidence in clinical and policy contexts, and establishing life-course–based lifelong health management programs. For the 2026 comprehensive amendment to produce meaningful progress, continued efforts are needed to clarify long-term health effects and refine health data–based surveillance systems so that scientific evidence can be translated effectively into policy.; Summary

Korean summary
가습기살균제 참사로 인한 지연성 및 다계통 건강영향을 규명하고, 역학적 근거를 배상과 장기 지원으로 연결하는 데에는 여전히 해결해야 할 과제가 남아 있다. 본 논문은 국가와 기업의 책임, 포용적 배상, 건강데이터 기반 감시체계, 생애주기별 건강관리를 강조하면서, 참사의 정책적 교훈과 2026년 「가습기살균제 피해구제를 위한 특별법」 전부개정의 함의를 검토한다. 이러한 체계의 강화는 예방의학과 공중보건이 사후적 재난 대응을 넘어 향후 환경보건 위기의 사전 예방으로 나아가는 데 기여할 수 있다.

Key Message
Unmet needs remain in identifying delayed and multisystem health effects from the humidifier disinfectant disaster and translating epidemiological evidence into compensation and long-term support. This article reviews the disaster’s policy lessons and the implications of the 2026 full amendment of the Special Act, emphasizing state–corporate responsibility, inclusive compensation, health-data–based surveillance, and life-course health management. Strengthening these systems can help preventive medicine and public health move from post-disaster response toward proactive prevention of future environmental health crises.

Original Articles

Using the Health Belief Model to Predict Tuberculosis Preventive Behaviors Among Tuberculosis Patients’ Household Contacts During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Border Areas of Northern Thailand: Nantawan Khamai, Katekaew Seangpraw, Parichat Ong-Artborirak; J Prev Med Public Health. 2024;57(3):223-233. Published online May 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.453

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Objectives
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated the rate of tuberculosis (TB) infection among close contacts of TB patients in remote regions. However, research on preventive behaviors, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), among household contacts of TB cases is scarce. This study aimed to employ the HBM as a framework to predict TB preventive behaviors among household contacts of TB patients in the border areas of Northern Thailand.
Methods
A cross-sectional study with multi-stage random sampling was conducted in Chiang Rai Province. The study included 422 TB patients’ household contacts aged 18 years or older who had available chest X-ray (CXR) results. A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct the survey.
Results
The participants’ mean age was 42.93 years. Pearson correlation analysis showed that TB preventive behavior scores were significantly correlated with TB knowledge (r=0.397), perceived susceptibility (r=0.565), perceived severity (r=0.452), perceived benefits (r=0.581), self-efficacy (r=0.526), and cues to action (r=0.179). Binary logistic regression revealed that the modeled odds of having an abnormal CXR decreased by 30.0% for each 1-point score increase in preventive behavior (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 0.79).
Conclusions
HBM constructs were able to explain preventive behaviors among TB patients’ household contacts. The HBM could be used in health promotion programs to improve TB preventive behaviors and avoid negative outcomes.

Summary

Key Message
- Tuberculosis knowledge and the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs are associated with preventive behaviors that affect CXR results among pulmonary TB patients’ household contacts. - The HBM could be used in health promotion programs to improve TB preventive behaviors and avoid negative outcomes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Household Clustering of High-Risk Contacts in Smear-Positive TB Patient Families: Evidence for Hotspot Households and Risk Stratification in Rural Eastern Cape
Hloniphani Guma, Ntandazo Dlatu, Wezile Wilson Chitha, Teke Apalata, Lindiwe Modest Faye
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2025; 22(12): 1823. CrossRef

Household Overcrowding in Iran, a Low-middle-income Country: How Major of a Public Health Concern Is It?: Leila Jansar Hosseini, Ali Hussein Samadi, Abraha Woldemichael, Masoumeh Najaf Gharebelagh, Satar Rezaei, Enayatollah Homaie Rad; J Prev Med Public Health. 2021;54(1):73-80. Published online January 11, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.20.568

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
Household overcrowding (HC) can contribute to both physical and mental disorders among the members of overcrowded households. This study aimed to measure the status of HC and its main determinants across the provinces of Iran.
Methods
Data from 39 864 households from the 2016 Iranian Household Income and Expenditures Survey were used in this study. The Equivalized Crowding Index (ECI) and HC index were applied to measure the overcrowding of households. Regression models were estimated to show the relationships between different variables and the ECI.
Results
The overall, urban, and rural prevalence of HC was 8.2%, 6.3%, and 10.1%, respectively. The highest prevalence of HC was found in Sistan and Baluchestan Province (28.7%), while the lowest was found in Guilan Province (1.8%). The number of men in the household, rural residency, the average age of household members, yearly income, and the household wealth index were identified as the main determinants of the ECI and HC.
Conclusions
The study demonstrated that the ECI and HC were higher in regions near the borders of Iran than in other regions. Therefore, health promotion and empowerment strategies are required to avoid the negative consequences of HC, and screening programs are needed to identify at-risk families.

Summary

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Geospatial patterns and socio-environmental factors of household overcrowding in Ethiopia: Evidence from 2019 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data
Awoke Keleb, Altaseb Beyene Kassaw, Anmut Endalkachew Bezie, Gosa Mankelkl, Adisu Meles Kabtyimer, Wubalem Amare, Halid Worku Jemil
Scientific Reports.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Sex, age, and socioeconomic variations in rheumatic heart disease burden in Iran (1990–2021): insights from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study
Farid Farahani Rad, Mohammad-Mahdi Bastan, Amir Hossein Behnoush
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Salman Barasteh, Akram Parandeh, Maryam Rassouli, Rohallah Zaboli, Amir Vahedian Azimi, Morteza Khaghanizadeh
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Urszula Grzybowska, Hanna Dudek, Agnieszka Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska
Procedia Computer Science.2024; 246: 4441. CrossRef
Social determinants of health and diabetes: Results from a cohort study in Iran
SeyedJalal Hashemi, Mehrnoosh Jasemzadeh, Nader Saki, Bahman Cheraghian, Sara Sarvandian, Ali Montazeri, Maedeh Raeisizadeh, Marzieh Araban
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Food Security in Households of People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study in a Subdivision of Darjeeling District, West Bengal: Pallabi Dasgupta, Sharmistha Bhattacherjee, Dilip Kumar Das; J Prev Med Public Health. 2016;49(4):240-248. Published online July 19, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.16.023

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156 Download
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Abstract PDF

Objectives
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) adversely impacts food security in households of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Little research has focused on food insecurity among PLWHA in India. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of and factors relating to food security in households of PLWHA in the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
Methods
A cross-sectional community-based study was carried out among 173 PLWHA residing in Siliguri and registered at the Anti-retroviral Therapy Centre of North Bengal Medical College & Hospital. Data was collected at the household level with interviews of PLWHA using a food security survey instrument. We analyzed the associations using logistic regression.
Results
The prevalence of household food security among the participants was 50.9% (88/173). Five years or more of schooling, higher socioeconomic class and males were found to be significantly associated with a higher likelihood of food security. A later stage of the disease and the presence of other family members with HIV/AIDS were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of food security. The major coping strategies to deal with food insecurity in the acute phase HIV infection included borrowing money (56.1%), followed by spousal support, loans from microfinance institutions, banks, or money lenders, borrowing food, or selling agricultural products.
Conclusions
The present study revealed that only about half of households with PLWHA were food secure. Prior interventions relating to periods of food and economic crisis as well as strategies for sustaining food security and economic status are needed in this area.

Summary

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Samuel Dessu Sifer, Milkiyas Solomon Getachew, Melkamu Abte, Nebyu Lakew Tefera, Abenezer Zenebe Kebede, Mulugeta Geremew
BMC Nutrition.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Food insecurity and its severity among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in health facilities, northcentral Ethiopia: a multi-facility-based cross-sectional study
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Journal of Cleaner Production.2021; 281: 124537. CrossRef
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Nutrition and Health.2021; 27(2): 141. CrossRef
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Socioeconomic Disparities in Osteoporosis Prevalence: Different Results in the Overall Korean Adult Population and Single-person Households: Jungmee Kim, Joongyub Lee, Ju-Young Shin, Byung-Joo Park; J Prev Med Public Health. 2015;48(2):84-93. Published online March 6, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.14.047

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111 Download
14 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Objectives
The present study was conducted in order to examine the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and osteoporosis prevalence in Korea and to assess whether different associations are found in single-person households.
Methods
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from 2008 to 2011. The study subjects were people aged ≥ 50 years with osteoporosis as defined by bone mineral density. Multivariate logistic models were used to estimate prevalence odds ratios (pORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Gender differences in the likelihood of osteoporosis were analyzed based on household income, education level, and residential area.
Results
There were 8221 osteoporosis patients aged ≥ 50 years, of whom 927 lived in single-person households. There was a gender-specific association between osteoporosis prevalence and all three SES factors that we analyzed: income, education, and residential area. After adjusting for age, SES, and health behaviors, including body mass index (BMI), low household income was only significantly associated with osteoporosis in men, whereas education level had an inverse relationship with osteoporosis only in women (p= 0.01, p<0.001, respectively). However, after controlling for age and BMI, rural residency was only associated with osteoporosis in women living in single-person households (pOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.43).
Conclusions
The Korean adult population showed a gender-specific relationship between SES and osteoporosis prevalence, with a different pattern found in single-person households.

Summary

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