Korean atomic bomb survivors' report on the present status and health of their children: a mail questionnaire survey

A mail questionnaire survey on the present status and health of children of Korean survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of Japan was conducted in 2004. In total, 1,115 Korean A-bomb survivors' reports on demographic factors and the health of their children (n = 4,079) were analysed. In 2004, 293 of their children were reported to have died and 3,786 children still living. Among the deceased children, the cause of death was unidentified in 64 per cent of cases. The most frequently reported cause of death was infectious disease (9.6%). Most of the deaths (51%) were reported to have occurred in children less than ten years old. The most frequently reported congenital disorders among living children were mental retardation (0.18%) and congenital bone disorders (0.18%). Further study and administrative support are needed to more accurately determine the status of Korean A-bomb survivors and their children.