• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to assess mental health and quality of life (QOL) including factors influencing QOL among early North Korean defectors in South Korea. Participants were 151 early North Korean defectors residing in a settlement support center. All measures were self-administered. Unlike refugees living in communities, early defectors did not experience a high rate of mental health problems and reported a good QOL. Psychoticism was the most predictive factor affecting QOL. Findings from this study suggest the importance of mental health assessment and support over time. Psychoticism, significant in explaining QOL of early North Korean defectors, needs early diagnosis and treatment to prevent progression. Mental health issues among refugees may not be evident while they are in a structured, supportive environment. Evaluation and treatment are needed over time.

• 한국응급구조학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.5-18
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this survey was to investigate the health status (food intake, exercise, smoking, drinking, stress, social support) of North Korean Refugees in Gwangju metropolitan city and Jeonnam province. Method : Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from 61 North Korean Refugees from March 20 to April 20, 2005. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS win 12.0 programs. Results: In current health status, 42.7% of the subjects were in poor health. In exercise status, 32.8% of the subjects practiced exercise regular basis but only 13.1% did it 3-4 times per week. In smoking status, 26.2% of the subjects were current smokers and 81% were nicotine dependent. In drinking status, 37.7% of the subjects were current drinkers, 48% were problematic and 17% were alcohol dependent. In stress status, 42.7% of the subjects were in psycho-emotional, 49.2% in physical and 19.6% in behavioral stress. The mean score of social support was 24 out of 54 points showing a little low relatively. Conclusion : These findings showed that the health conditions of Saeteomins were poor relatively. Therefore, health care programs should be started for these Saeteomins in order to improve their health status.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.160-167
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• 2015

본 연구는 북한이탈청소년의 우울, 스트레스 및 자아존중감과 같은 사회심리적 측면을 중심으로 건강증진생활양식과의 관계를 알아보고자 하며, 특히 성인에 비해 정신적으로 성숙하지 못한 청소년기에 대한 이해를 높이고자 하는데 목적이 있다. 이를 위하여 북한이탈청소년 150명을 대상으로 설문조사를 하였으며 대상에서 제외된 설문지 65부를 제외한 85부가 최종분석에 사용되었다. 건강증진생활양식에 영향을 미치는 요인을 분석하기 위해 다중 선형회귀분석(multiple linear regression)을 실시하였다. 분석결과, 일반적 자아, 학교 자아, 스트레스가 건강증진생활양식에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이에 본 연구는 북한이탈청소년의 사회 심리적 요인인 스트레스, 자아존중감이 건강증진생활양식에 영향을 미치는 것을 파악하였으며, 북한이탈청소년들의 건강증진을 위해 자아존중감의 확립이 필요하다는 것을 시사한다. 앞으로 남한사회의 일원이 될 북한이탈청소년을 안정적으로 정착시키기 위한 사회 심리적인 측면에서의 지원 프로그램이 더욱 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.115-123
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the oral hygiene status of children and adolescents from North Korean (NK) refugee families residing in South Korea (SK) and to find ways to improve it. Methods: This study examined 88 children in NK refugee families. Their oral hygiene ability were estimated using the Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP)-index for children. The Independent Samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted on the oral hygiene status according to the characteristics of children of NK refugees, and covariance analysis was conducted by controlling for significant variables in the simple analysis. Statistical significance levels were set at than p<0.05. Results: The overall PHP-index of normal, poor, and severe poor were 14.8%, 5.7%, and 79.5%, respectively. Adjusted for sex, age, country of birth, duration of settlement, covariance analysis was performed to determine the PHP-index according to oral examination. PHP-index was 3.55±1.56 when the oral examination was conducted and 4.26±0.98 when the oral examination was not conducted; this difference was significantly (p=0.022). Conclusions: Children and from NK refugee families have severely poor oral hygiene. Therefore, education to improve the oral hygiene status is necessary.

• 한국학교보건학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.164-174
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting tuberculosis prevention behaviors in North Korean adolescent refugees. Methods: From September 16 to October 8, 2019, a survey was conducted to collect data from 143 North Korean adolescent refugees aged 13 to <25 at alternative and general schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The scale developed by Park (2008) and adapted by Cha (2012) was used to rate tuberculosis prevention behaviors in daily life with the aim of preventing high school students from getting infected with tuberculosis. The collected data were processed through frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression, using SPSS 25.0. Results: The mean score was 13.65 for knowledge of tuberculosis, 44.23 for attitudes towards tuberculosis, and 41.33 for tuberculosis prevention behaviors. Significant differences were found according to gender, country of origin, duration of stay in South Korea, tuberculosis examination, pre-entry chest x-ray, education about tuberculosis, alcohol intake, and subjective health status. A positive correlation was found between knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors. The factors affecting tuberculosis prevention behaviors were attitudes (β=.38, p<001) and subjective health status (β=.26, p<.001). Conclusion: It is necessary to provide attitude-based education that can reinforce positive attitudes in order to improve North Korean adolescent refugees' tuberculosis prevention behaviors. This is expected to help them pay more attention to health care and become better at prevention behaviors. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a tuberculosis prevention education program with the aim of making them more knowledgeable about tuberculosis and providing them with systematic and sustainable education.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.124-131
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• 2013

South Korea is changing into a multi-cultural society, due to an increase in international marriage, foreign workers and transcultural immigration. In addition, the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has increased and now, there are approximately 25000. Therefore, this review have focused on a research that pertains to adaptation and mental health concerns of their children. Children who have immigrated themselves or whose parents have immigrated, might experience language barriers, difficulties in school adjustment, identity confusion and mental health problems. However, their academic performance and developmental status are known to be variable and be affected by socioeconomic status and their parents' educational level. Studies that evaluated the psychological problems of North Korean adolescent refugees' indicated the need for interests in both emotional and behavioral problems. The risk factors of North Korean adolescent refugees' mental health are suggested to be past traumatic experiences, long duration of defection and short period of adaptation. When mental health professionals provide assessment and treatment, they should consider the pre- and post-migration experiences & cultural background that affect the illness behaviors and attitudes toward mental illnesses. Lastly, the majority of children with multi-cultural background are still under an adolescent period and we should follow up with long-term perspectives.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.72-83
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• 2023

Purpose: North Korean refugee women struggle with the double burden of adaptation and parenting as mothers in a new environment. This study aimed to identify the knowledge, confidence, and educational needs regarding newborn care among North Korean refugees, and to determine differences between these variables according to participants' characteristics. Methods: Data were collected from September to October 2022, and 150 North Korean refugee women recruited using convenience sampling participated in the study. Descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The mean scores were as follows: parenting knowledge, 14.97 out of 25; infection prevention knowledge and confidence, 20.09 out of 33 and 51.37 out of 80, respectively; and educational needs, 245.86 out of 310. Significant differences were observed in newborn care, knowledge, and confidence according to maternal age, educational level, family structure, and pregnancy history. Significant positive correlations were observed between the participants' newborn care knowledge, confidence, and educational needs. Conclusion: Personalized educational programs should be implemented to enhance North Korean refugee women's confidence in newborn care, focusing on areas with low knowledge levels and high educational needs and enabling women to achieve healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and to parent well.

• 한국간호교육학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.351-361
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to understand and explain the essences and structures of the experience of Korean nursing students' college life who have defected from North Korea. Korea. Methods: The data were collected in 2012 through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. A total of 6 nursing students who have escaped from North Korea participated in the study. Each interview lasted about 2 hours. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Phenomenological analysis. Results: Four theme clusters emerged by the analysis using Collaizzi's method: a dream of passing, the stern realities of life, out of the frying pan into the fire, and passion for my dream. These theme clusters illustrate that although most participants faced very strange and strenuous situations in most aspects of college life, each of them had hope to be an a good nurse in the future. The essence of the experience of participants was "living as a star in the black night". Conclusion: This study provides deep understanding of college life of nursing students who defected from North Korea. Based on the results of the study, the Korean government, society, and college should support refugees in order to help settle well in Korean society.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.265-268
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• 2006

The present authors investigated intestinal parasitic infections among North Korean residents and refugees in China in 2003. The Kato-Katz method was applied to 236 residents and soldiers in a town on the North Korea-China border and to 46 people at a refugee camp in China. Only eggs of Ascaris and Trichuris were detected, with egg positive rates of 41.1 % and 37.6%, respectively. The total egg positive rate was 55.0% and most of those who were egg positive were only lightly infected. Women of 61.2% and men of 53.1 % were egg positive. The refugees from rural areas showed higher egg positive rates than those from urban areas. The present investigation confirmed high prevalence of soil-transmitted intestinal helminths in rural borderline areas of North Korea.