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KMID : 0379720110250020221
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Journal of Korean Community Health Nursing Academic Society
2011 Volume.25 No. 2 p.221 ~ p.232
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Quality of Life of North Korean Defectors in Korea
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Shin Gi-Soo
Cho Kap-Chul
Yang Seon-Hee
Lee Og-Cheol
Baek Hee-Chong
Lee Gye-Young
Lee Suk-Jeong
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Abstract
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Purpose: The study sought to provide basic information for North Korean defectors (Sae-Tu-Min) by studying the quality of life(QoL) based on their general characteristics and health problems.
Methods: The targeted subjects were 1400 North Korean settlers who were receiving settlement service by Korean National Red Cross after finishing their training at
Hanawon in 2005. The data was collected from August to October in 2007. The QoL was assessed by Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Collected data were analyzed by ANOVA and t-test with SPSS win 15.0 program.
Result: The majority of the 466 subjects were female(77.9%). The average age was 36.8 years, 52.8% lived alone, and 64.0% were unemployed. The average QoL score of the group was 62.4 ±18.4, which was markedly lower in terms of social, physical and mental health compared to the scores of immigrants to South Korea from other countries. The score was the highest for physical ability and the lowest for general health. Influential socio-demographic factors to QoL were gender, age, education, religion, annual salary, occupation, and life insurance. Employed in the subject group showed higher level of QoL on eight categories than unemployed. Concerning health problems that detracted from QoL, 18.5% of the subjects were aware they suffered from anemia and 8.8% of them recognized they suffered from attention deficits.
Conclusion: The health conditions of the North Korean settlers had improved since they settled in South Korea, but their QoL was lower than other immigrants. Various programs to maintain and promote the health of North Korean settlers would be useful.
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KEYWORD
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Democratic People`s Republic of Korea, Immigrants, Quality of Life, Health status
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