A Study on the Health Status among the Homeless in Shelters

쉼터 노숙자의 건강상태에 관한 연구

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the physical and psychological health status of the homeless in shelters, and to suggest the basic data for caring them. Method: Study subjects were 153 homeless people who were registered in the shelters of Dong-gu, Busan, between September 1st, 2003 and March 15th, 2004. Data on their physical health status were collected by measuring weight and height (BMI), taking X-rays (tuberculosis), testing blood (syphilis, glucose, HBsAb and HBsAb). Psychological health status was measured with Rosenberg's self-esteem scale and Beck's depression scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, $x^2-test$, t-test or F-test using SPSS (Win10.0), at 0=0.05, two tailed test. Results: Mean age was 42.8 years old, high school graduated was 43.8%, and 60.8% didn't have medical benefits. Singles were 47.7%, 34.7% had bad family relationships and 39.2% hoped to live with family, 96.1% had a normal in chest X-ray test, and 96.1% had negative syphilis test 92.2% were negative for hepatitis antigen, 51.0% were antibody, 25.5% had hypertension, and 60.8% had a normal BMI test, and 84.3% had a normal blood sugar test. 39.2% were severely depressed, and 75.8% had a normal self-esteem level. Conclusion: Physical health status of the homeless was relatively good. However, depression levels were high and self-esteem was low. Therefore, it is necessary to take an action to improve the psychological health status for the homeless.