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KMID : 0904520160430010005
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Health and Medical Sociology
2016 Volume.43 No. 1 p.5 ~ p.32
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The Relationship between Marginalization and Health Inequalities in an Urban Slum of South Korea : A Qualitative Study
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Heo Hyun-Hee
Kim Jin-Sung
Che Xian-Hua
Chung Hae-Joo
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Abstract
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Health inequalities in a single-room-occupancy housing area, Jjok-bang continues to represent severe social problems in South Korea. While the positive association between individual and household socioeconomic status and health outcomes is well established, limited research have examined underpinning mechanisms, marginalization pertaining to entrenched health inequalities among residents in impoverished areas. This study was to understand residents’ experiences as follows: (1) which pathway of exclusion people experience before becoming residents in a precarious housing area; (2) how and why marginalization as a social determinant of health relates to health disparities; and (3) what strategies of intervening actions and policies are receptive and sustainable.
The present study explored the experiences of 21 residents and key informants in a Jjok-bang interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide from May to July, 2013. All qualitative data were analysed using the grounded theory methodology. We used NVivo, version 10 to code, conceptualize, categorize, and theorize data through an iterative comparative process.
Three major themes emerged from the data. First, residents experience past traumatic experiences including extreme material deprivation, illnesses or disabilities, and consecutive loss of labor opportunities before becoming residents in an inner city. Second, residents lost social support and experienced social exclusion in the process of marginalization that leaded to deteriorated mental health and severe alcohol dependency. Third, community-driven health promotion programs based on community empowerment are critical and coordinated health care is needed.
Increased understanding of relationship between marginalization and health inequalities can inform the development and implementation of complex intervening strategies tailored appropriately for vulnerable populations in an inner city at the community and policy levels. It is critical to develop community-based participatory interventions to meet residents’ health and wellness needs. Health and social policy is required to support community-driven health promotion programs to develop and sustain healthy communities.
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KEYWORD
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Health inequalities, Marginalization, Social exclusion, Poverty, Jjok-bang
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FullTexts / Linksout information
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Listed journal information
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