Journal of Industrial Convergence (산업융합연구)

DAEHAN Society of Industrial Management (대한산업경영학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Current Status and Health Empowerment of North Korean Women Defectors

북한이탈여성의 현황 및 건강 임파워먼트

  • Semi Lim (Dept. of Nursing, Gwangju University) ;
  • Kyungmi Lee (Dept. of Nursing, Baekseok University)
  • Received : 2023.09.08
  • Accepted : 2023.12.20
  • Published : 2023.12.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this study is a descriptive research study to confirm the difference in health empowerment according to the current status and general characteristics of North Korean women defectors residing in South Korea. The subjects of the study were 201 North Korean women defectors living in the local community, and data were collected from September 16 to September 21, 2020 using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. As a result of the study, the domain with the lowest score in the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors was "I know a positive method to cope with stress related to my health care." in the stress management question. Statistically significant differences were found in North Korean repatriation experience(t=3.77, p<.001), education(F=4.56, p=.012), economic status(t=-2.95, p=.004), subjective health status(t=-4.75, p<.001) and subjective stress(t=-2.47, p=.015). Based on the results of this study, alternatives should be prepared to strengthen the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors according to their individual characteristics.

본 연구의 목적은 남한에 거주하는 북한이탈여성의 현황 및 일반적 특성에 따른 건강 임파워먼트의 차이를 확인하기 위한 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구대상자는 지역사회에 거주하고 있는 북한이탈여성 201명이며, 구조화된 설문지를 이용하여 2020년 9월 16일부터 9월 21일까지 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS/WIN 23.0 프로그램을 이용하여 기술 통계, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients로 분석하였다. 연구결과, 북한이탈여성의 건강 임파워먼트에서 점수가 가장 낮은 영역은 "건강관리에 관련된 스트레스에 대처하는 긍정적인 방법을 알고 있다"로 스트레스 관리 문항이었다. 북송경험이 없는 경우(t=3.77, p<.001), 학력(F=4.56, p=.012), 주관적 경제상태가 좋은 집단이(t=-2.95, p=.004), 주관적 건강상태가 좋은 집단이(t=-4.75, p<.001), 스트레스를 느끼지 않는 집단이(t=-2.47, p=.015) 통계적으로 유의하게 건강 임파워먼트에 차이를 나타냈다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 개별적인 특성에 맞추어 북한이탈여성의 건강 임파워먼트 강화를 위한 대안이 마련되어야겠다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This Study was conducted by research funds from Gwangju University in 2023.

References

  1. Ministry of Unification. (2023). North Korean refugee policy. Retrieved from . https://www.unikorea.go.kr/unikorea/business/NKDefectorsPolicy/status/lately/
  2. A. R. Cho et al. (2013). A qualitative research on the cognition of the initiation of diseases of North Korean refugees in South Korea, Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, 24(4), 373-384. https://doi.org/10.7231/jon.2013.24.4.373
  3. S. S. Park. (2014). Changes in family relationships for North Korean women defectors : through family life in North Korea, China and South Korea, Doctoral thesis, Soongsil University, Seoul.
  4. J. H.. Noh & H. J. Kim. (2018). The transformation of marital relationships of North Korean defectors, Family and Family Therapy, 26(2), 205-228. https://doi.org/10.21479/KAFT.2018.26.2.205
  5. Y. S. Jung. (2018). A qualitative study on the experiences of North Korean Women defectors who experienced trafficking. The Women's Studies, 98(3), 97-135. https://doi.org/10.33949/tws.2018.98.3.004
  6. S. H. Lee. (2016). Status of North Korean defectors' health and medical use and tasks. KDI Review of the North Korean Economy, 18(3), 35-49.
  7. I. Lee. (2015). The relationship among body image, appearance management behavior and psychosocial health of women defected North Korea. Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology. 5(4), 483-500. DOI : 10.35873/ajmahs.2015.5.4.049
  8. K. J. Kim et al. (2015). Vitamin D status and associated metabolic risk factors among North Korean refugees in South Korea: a crosssectional study. BMJ Open, 5:e009140. DOI : 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009140
  9. S. W. Cho, S. H. Lee, E. S. Koh, S. E. Kim, & S. J. Kim. (2015). Characteristics of Body Composition and Muscle Strength of North Korean Refugees during South Korean Stay. Endocrinology and Metabolism, 30, 551-556. DOI : 10.3803/EnM.2015.30.4.551
  10. M. M. Funnell & R. M. Anderson. (2003). Patient empowerment: A look back, a look ahead, The diabetes educator, 29(3), 454-458. https://doi.org/10.1177/014572170302900310
  11. M. J. Kwak, J. K. Lee, & Y. I. Jo. (2019). The effects of acculturation stress and family health on psychological well-being in multicultural women: focusing on the mediating effect of Empowerment. Korean Public Management Review, 33(2), 193-211. DOI : 10.24210/kapm.2018.33.2.009
  12. R. H. Wang, H. C. Hsu, Y. J. Lee, S. J. Shin, K. D. Lin, & L. W. An. (2016). Patient empowerment interacts with health literacy to associate with subsequent self-management behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective study in Taiwan. Patient Education and Counseling, 99, 1626-1631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.04.001
  13. L. Nafradi, K. Nakamoto, M. Csabai, O. PappZipernovszky, & P. J. Schulz. (2018). An empirical test of the health empowerment model: does patient empowerment moderate the effect of health literacy on health status?. Patient Education and Counselling, 101(3), 511-517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.09.004
  14. P. Pratley. (2016). Associations between quantitative measures of women's empowerment and access to care and health status for mothers and their children: A systematic review of evidence from the developing world. Social Science & Medicine, 169, 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.001
  15. S. B. Yun & E. J. Choi. (2016). Stress, loneliness, impact on the mental health of the North Korean defectors elderl: social support mediated effects analysis. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 36(2), 377-394.
  16. K. Lee & M. Kim (2017). Significant factors associated with health literacy among North Korean defectors: Application for GelꠓbergAndersen behavioral model. Studies on Life and Culture. 46, 247-295.
  17. C. Park & Y. H. Park. (2013). Validity and reliability of Korean version of health empowerment scale (K-HES) for older adults. Asian Nursing Research, 7, 142-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2013.07.004
  18. The Seoul institute. (2019). Age of North Korean defectors residing in Seoul, Retrieved from: https://www.si.re.kr/node/62442
  19. Ministry of Unification. (2020). Residence period of North Korean defectors in a third country, Retrieved from: https://blog.naver.com/yky2015/222126083926
  20. I. Oh & E. H. Ro. (2020). Contextual understanding and intervention strategies for the emotional-behavioral problems of North Korean refugees born in third countries, Korean Journal of Educational Research, 58(1), 1-32. https://doi.org/10.30916/KERA.58.1.1
  21. Y. J. Jung & B. N. Choi..(2017). The effect of psychological state of North Korean female refuses focused on escape length of North Korea to South Korea and repatriation experience to the North Korea : analysis of BPSI-NKR, The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology, 22(1), 47-67. https://doi.org/10.18205/KPA.2017.22.1.003
  22. D. K. Song et al. (2016). Relationship between perceived stigma for psychological helps and depression in North Korean defectors, Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatr Association, 55(3), 194-201. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2016.55.3.194
  23. H. M.. Cho & E. J. Choi. (2020). Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Employment of Married North Korean Women Defectors Rearing Children, Journal of Korean Academy Nursing, 50(1), 39-51. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2020.50.1.39
  24. K. H. Chae. (2017). The adaptation status of North Korean defectors to South Korean society and its effect on their problem solving ability, Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society, 18(10), 524-530. https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2017.18.10.524
  25. Korea Hana Foundation. (2017). 2016 settlement survey of North Korean refugees in South Korea. Seoul: Korea Hana Foundation.
  26. B. Jeon. (2017). Effects of health status on social adaptation of North Korean defectors and buffering effects of national identity, The Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 18(1), 333-367. https://doi.org/10.15818/ihss.2017.18.1.333
  27. C. Park et al. (2015). Effects of a multidisciplinary approached, empowerment theory based self-management intervention in older adults with chronic illness, Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 45(2), 192-201. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.2.192
  28. M. R. Jung et al. (2021). Effect of health empowerment and health behavior compliance on quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease, Journal of Convergence for Information Technology, 11(2), 73-81. https://doi.org/10.22156/CS4SMB.2021.11.02.073
  29. H. Son & G. S. Kim. (2017). Health empowerment of older adults with high-risk of cardiocerebrovascular diseases. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing, 28(4), 410-420. DOI : 10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.4.410
  30. K. Park & S. K. Chung. (2021). The effects of diabetes empowerment and health perception on diabetes self-care behavior in community diabetic elderly. Journal of Convergence for Information Technology, 11(9), 43-49. DOI : 10.22156/CS4SMB.2021.11.09.043
  31. M. M. Jo. (2015). Relationship between health literacy, health care empowerment, health promoting behaviors in the middle-aged men of blue collar workers. Master dissertation. Yonsei University, Seoul.
  32. Ministry of Unification. (2023). Establishment of 2023 implementation plan for settlement support for North Korean defectors, Retrieved from: https://www.korea.kr/briefing/press ReleaseView.do?newsId=156557627
  33. J. W. Noh, H. Y. Yun, H. Park, & S. E. Yu. (2015). A Study of predictive factors affecting health: promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees. Journal of Preventive Medicine Public Health, 48, 231-238. DOI : 10.3961/jpmph.14.045