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Current Status and Health Empowerment of North Korean Women Defectors

북한이탈여성의 현황 및 건강 임파워먼트

  • Semi Lim (Dept. of Nursing, Gwangju University) ;
  • Kyungmi Lee (Dept. of Nursing, Baekseok University)
  • Received : 2023.09.08
  • Accepted : 2023.12.20
  • Published : 2023.12.28

Abstract

The purpose of this study is a descriptive research study to confirm the difference in health empowerment according to the current status and general characteristics of North Korean women defectors residing in South Korea. The subjects of the study were 201 North Korean women defectors living in the local community, and data were collected from September 16 to September 21, 2020 using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. As a result of the study, the domain with the lowest score in the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors was "I know a positive method to cope with stress related to my health care." in the stress management question. Statistically significant differences were found in North Korean repatriation experience(t=3.77, p<.001), education(F=4.56, p=.012), economic status(t=-2.95, p=.004), subjective health status(t=-4.75, p<.001) and subjective stress(t=-2.47, p=.015). Based on the results of this study, alternatives should be prepared to strengthen the health empowerment of North Korean women defectors according to their individual characteristics.

본 연구의 목적은 남한에 거주하는 북한이탈여성의 현황 및 일반적 특성에 따른 건강 임파워먼트의 차이를 확인하기 위한 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구대상자는 지역사회에 거주하고 있는 북한이탈여성 201명이며, 구조화된 설문지를 이용하여 2020년 9월 16일부터 9월 21일까지 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS/WIN 23.0 프로그램을 이용하여 기술 통계, t-test, ANOVA, pearson's correlation coefficients로 분석하였다. 연구결과, 북한이탈여성의 건강 임파워먼트에서 점수가 가장 낮은 영역은 "건강관리에 관련된 스트레스에 대처하는 긍정적인 방법을 알고 있다"로 스트레스 관리 문항이었다. 북송경험이 없는 경우(t=3.77, p<.001), 학력(F=4.56, p=.012), 주관적 경제상태가 좋은 집단이(t=-2.95, p=.004), 주관적 건강상태가 좋은 집단이(t=-4.75, p<.001), 스트레스를 느끼지 않는 집단이(t=-2.47, p=.015) 통계적으로 유의하게 건강 임파워먼트에 차이를 나타냈다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 개별적인 특성에 맞추어 북한이탈여성의 건강 임파워먼트 강화를 위한 대안이 마련되어야겠다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This Study was conducted by research funds from Gwangju University in 2023.

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