• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제82권4호
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• pp.306-310
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• 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in immigrants. We aimed to investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment for North Korean Refugees (NKR) compared to South Koreans Contacts (SKC). Methods: TB close contacts in a closed facility of SKC and NKR who underwent LTBI screening in a settlement support center for NKR were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among tuberculin skin test (TST) ${\geq}10mm$ (n=298) reactors, the males accounted for 72.2% in SKC (n=126) and 19.5% in NKR (n=172) (p<0.01). The mean age was higher in South Korea ($42.8{\pm}9.9years$ vs. $35.4{\pm}10.0years$, p<0.01). Additionally, the mean TST size was significantly bigger in NKR ($17.39{\pm}3.9mm$ vs. $16.57{\pm}4.2mm$, p=0.03). The LTBI treatments were initiated for all screened NKR, and LTBI completion rate was only 68.0%. However, in NKR, LTBI treatment completion rate was significantly increased by shorter 4R regimen (odds ratio [OR], 9.296; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.159-20.774; p<0.01) and male (OR, 3.447; 95% CI, 1.191-9.974; p=0.02). Conclusion: LTBI treatment compliance must be improved in NKR with a shorter regimen. In addition, a larger study regarding a focus on LTBI with easy access to related data for NKR should be conducted.

• 벤처창업연구
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.191-206
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• 2020

통일과 북한이탈주민의 직장생활에 관한 여러 연구들이 진행되고 있지만, 경영학의 인적자원관리 측면에서 북한이탈주민의 특성을 남한 근로자와 비교한 연구는 거의 찾아볼 수가 없었다. 이러한 선행연구의 한계를 고려하여 본 연구는 북한이탈주민과 남한 근로자 사이의 집단 비교분석을 통하여, 조직몰입과 이직의도에 영향을 미치는 요인에 차이가 있는지를 분석하였다. 두 집단간의 비교분석을 위하여 북한이탈주민인 근로자 145명, 남한 근로자 213명을 대상으로 다중집단구조방정식모형을 통해 실증분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 조직몰입과 이직의도에 영향을 미치는 측정도구에 대하여 두 집단 모두 동등하게 인식하여 측정동질성은 확인되었다. 측정동질성이 확인되어 두 집단 사이의 차이를 검정한 결과, 긍정심리자본 중 하위 구성요소인 낙관주의가 조직몰입에 영향을 미치는 것과 사회적 지지 중 애정적 지지와 교류적 지지가 조직몰입에 영향을 미치는 점에 있어서는 두 집단 사이에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있음을 확인했다. 두 집단 사이의 경로를 분석해보면, 첫째 긍정심리자본과 관련하여서는 낙관주의가 조직몰입에 영향을 미치는 점은 두 집단 모두 확인할 수 있었는데, 그 강도에 있어서 남한 근로자가 미치는 영향이 북한이탈주민의 경우보다 강하게 나타났다. 둘째, 사회적 지지와 관련하여서는 애정적 지지와 교류적 지지가 모두 남한 근로자의 경우 조직몰입과 유의한 영향관계를 확인할 수 없었던 반면, 북한이탈주민 근로자의 경우에는 그 두 가지 사회적 지지가 조직몰입에 영향을 미치는 점을 확인할 수 있었다. 셋째, 그 외 긍정심리자본의 하위구성요소 중 개인적인 특성이 강한 자기효능감, 희망, 복원력과 사회적 지지의 하위 구성요소(정보적 지지, 물질적 지지)에 관한 부분은 두 집단 사이의 차이를 확인할 수 없었다. 이러한 결과는 북한이탈주민 근로자를 고용한 중소기업이나 경영자들에게 북한이탈주민 근로자들이 사회적 지지, 특히 애정적 지지와 교류적 지지를 지각할 수 있도록 조직 환경을 조성해가는 것이 필요함을 시사한다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.134-142
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are a unique population as they must adapt in a new country with similar cultural traits but different social, political, and economic systems, but little research has been conducted on diet and nutrition in this population. This study examined food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes among adult NKRs living in South Korea and compared them to those of South Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 139 adult NKRs (25 men, 114 women) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 417 age- and sex- matched South Korean controls (SKCs; 75 men, 342 women) selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Food security and dietary behaviors (meal skipping, eating-out, meals with family, nutrition education and counseling, and nutrition label knowledge and utilization) were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hr recall. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. RESULTS: In South Korea, food security had improved over the previous 12 months, but remained significantly poorer for NKR women than SKC women. Meal skipping was three times more frequent than for SKCs and eating-out was rare. Average energy intake was 1,509 kcal for NKR men and 1,344 kcal for NKR women, which was lower than those of SKCs (2,412 kcal and 1,789 kcal, respectively). Significantly more NKRs (men 24.0%, women 21.9%) showed simultaneously deficient intake in energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and riboflavin than SKCs (men 2.7% (P = 0.003), women 7.0% (P < 0.001)). NKR women had a significantly higher index of nutrient quality (INQ) for some nutrients than SK women. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports significant differences in food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes between NKRs and SKCs. Generally, NKRs reported lower intakes despite improved food security, but relatively good INQs across nutrients. Further research is needed to understand processes of food choice and consumption among NKRs to provide appropriate support aimed at improving diets.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.683-689
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• 2017

본 연구는 국내 입국탈북자들 중, 청소년 탈북자의 비율이 증가하고 있는 상황에서 탈북청소년에 대한 연구가 필요한 시점을 바탕으로 연구를 진행하였으며, 본 연구의 대상인 탈북청소년들은 한국 생활에서 경험하는 다양한 상황을 낯설어하고 소극적으로 대처하는 경향이 있고, 이러한 상황에서 적절하게 문제를 해결하는 것은 한국 사회 적응에 도움이 될 것이다. 본 연구에서는 연구대상 탈북청소년 213명을 대상으로 2017년 06월 14일부터 24일 동안 설문조사를 실시하여 탈북청소년의 사회적지지, 자아존중감, 문제해결능력 간의 관계를 구조방정식 모형을 통해 살펴보았다. 분석결과, 탈북청소년 사회적지지 유형인 정서적, 물질적, 정보적, 평가적 지지는 자아존중감에 정적인 영향을 미쳤고, 자아존중감은 탈북청소년의 문제해결능력에 정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 탈북청소년의 사회적지지 4가지 유형과 문제해결능력 간의 관계에서 자아존중감은 매개효과가 있는 것을 검증하였다. 본 연구는 탈북청소년의 사회적 지지와 자아존중감을 통해 한국 사회 적응을 위한 문제해결능력을 향상시키기 위한 프로그램 개발이나 자기개발훈련 등의 실천적인 방안을 제안하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.139-144
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• 2007

We investigated a small-scale serological survey to screen tissue-parasitic helminthiases of North Koreans as one of research programs for re-unification of Korea. Soil-transmitted helminthiases were found highly prevalent among North Korean residents at the border with China. ELISA using 4 tissue-parasitic helminth antigens was applied to 137 residents living in Cheongjin-shi, Hamgyeongbuk-do, North Korea and 133 female refugees in South Korea in 2004-2005. Among a total of 270 samples, 31 (11.5%), 25 (9.3%), and 11 (4.1%) were positive for specific IgG antibodies to antigens of Clonorchis sinensis, Taenia solium metacestode, and sparganum, respectively. The overall positive rate was 21.5%; 38.2% in males and 15.8% in females. The present finding suggests that tissue parasites, such as C. sinensis, T. solium metacestode and sparganum are highly prevalent in some limited areas of North Korea. These foodborne tissue-parasitic helminthiases should be considered for future control measures of parasitic diseases in North Korea.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.144-155
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to identify the general characteristics, subjects, and methods of research on the health of North Korean refugees through a systematic literature review. Methods: A total of 140 studies on health were reviewed using the analytical framework developed by the researchers. Results: The quantitative research comprised 90.7% of the studies, whereas the qualitative research were 7.9% of them. Approximately 81.4% of those reviewed have publication dates spanning 2006 to 2015. Only 13.6% of the studies were conducted with the approval of an institutional review board. The subjects of studies were psycho-social health (151.8%), behavioral health (28.5%), cognitive health (15.0%), physical health (12.2%), integrated health (7.8%), and spiritual health (2.8%). Within the quantitative studies reviewed, the most commonly used study design was survey research (86.0%). The two sampling methods used most often were convenience sampling (53.5%) and snowball sampling (19.4%), and the most commonly used data-collection method were questionnaires (94.6%). As for the qualitative studies, the most commonly used study design was phenomenology. Conclusion: The results suggested that the reviewed studies focused on physical health more than psycho-social health, and physiological measurement more than questionnaires. Ethical considerations need to be expanded.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and dietary behavior of adolescents from North Korean refugee (NKR) families residing in South Korea (SK), who are known to be at a higher risk of malnutrition due to their lower socioeconomic status and facing other psychological challenges. Methods: A total of 178 adolescents (91 males and 87 females) from NKR families were included in the analysis, and their demographic details such as age, birthplace, parental nationality, and duration of their settlement in SK were collected through questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were also taken to determine their growth and nutritional status according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. The study used the Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A) questionnaire to assess the dietary behavior of the participants. Results: Approximately 11.8% and 10.1% of participants were identified with malnutrition and obesity, respectively. The total mean score for the NQ-A was 50.1. The mean scores for the individual factors of balance, diversity, moderation, environment, and practice were 49.2, 44.7, 43.8, 51.2, and 61.5, respectively. Approximately 47.2% of participants had a low NQ-A grade. However, there was no significant difference in the NQ-A scores according to their nutritional status or duration of time in SK. Conclusions: Adolescents from NKR families exhibited both malnutrition and obesity. However, their dietary behavior, as assessed using the NQ-A, did not vary with their nutritional status. The unique challenges and related dietary behavior of North Korean adolescent refugees should be taken into consideration, when developing targeted strategies for nutritional education and health management programs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.129-141
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• 2024

Purpose: The study investigated the relationships between key variables, including the level of parenting knowledge, acculturative stress, depression, and the strengths and difficulties associated with their children's emotions and behavior, among North Korean refugee mothers who faced the challenging task of adapting to Korean society while raising their children. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 130 North Korean refugee mothers between September and November 2023. Results: The participants had very limited parenting knowledge, and 82.3% of them scored 21 or higher on the depression scale used in community epidemiological studies. Higher levels of parenting knowledge and lower levels of depression were associated with lower levels of acculturative stress. Moreover, higher levels of depression were associated with more emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Maternal depression, age, and employment status were identified as factors that influenced emotional and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of providing parent education and mental health support programs for North Korean refugee families in order to improve parents' parenting skills and emotional well-being.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.182-189
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of parenting stress in North Korean refugee fathers on their parenting behavior. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected during 2014 and 2015 in a settlement support center for North Korean refugees and 99 North Korean refugee fathers participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Warmth encouragement parenting behavior received the highest score. The score for parenting stress was 81.98 out of 180, and 32.3% of participants were found to need professional help (${\geq}PSI\;90$). There were significant negative correlations between warmth encouragement parenting behavior and parenting stress. There were also significant positive correlations between rejection neglect parenting behavior and parenting stress. Predictors of warmth encouragement behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction which explained 10.1% of the variance. Predictors of rejection neglect behavior were parent-child dysfunctional interaction, number of children and wife's education level which explained 33.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Findings show that North Korean refugee fathers' parenting stress significantly influenced warmth encouragement and rejection neglect parenting behavior indicating a need to identify ways to decrease parenting stress. Parenting education can guide North Korean refugee fathers to strengthen parent-child positive interactions and therefore promote their children's growth and development.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.216-226
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude on tuberculosis by parents of North Korean refugees' children. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from July to November, 2014 in Hanawon and 74 North Korean refugee parents participated in the study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0. Results: The score for knowledge was 17.72 out of 30 points, for awareness in attitude, 49.34 out of 60 points and for prevention behavior in attitude, 48.39 out of 60 points. There were positive significant correlations among knowledge, attitude and health interest. There was also a significant positive correlation between awareness and prevention behavior in attitude, and between prevention behavior and health interest. Conclusion: North Korean refugee parents showed a low level of knowledge and a negative attitude. The implication of these results is an awareness of the need for education on the causes, transmission and importance of treatment for tuberculosis. This kind of education can guide North Korean refugee parents to obtain correct information and positive attitudes and therefore, be able to effectively practice appropriate health behaviors in tuberculosis management for their children.