International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 20, 2019

Factors associated with general health screening participation among married immigrant women in Korea (Article) (Open Access)

Jeong J. , Lee Y. , Kwon S.H. , Myong J.-P.*
  • a Department of medical benefit, National Health Insurance Company, 32, Geongang-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do 26464, South Korea
  • b Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, South Korea
  • c Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, South Korea
  • d Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, South Korea

Abstract

Background: The number of married female immigrants living in Korea has been increasing and is expected to increase further. This study was performed to identify factors associated with national general health screening participation among married immigrant women living in South Korea. Methods: The Korean National Health Insurance System’s (NHIS) customized database for the years 2014 and 2015 was used. The targets of this study were women aged 19 years old and above. To identify factors associated with national general health screening participation, the following analyses were employed: frequency, chi-square, simple regression, and multiple regression. Results: A total of 11,213 women were identified in the NHIS database. Overall, 67.4% participated in national general health screenings, lower than the 74.6% participation rate of the entire women’s health screening program. Married immigrant women with a job had higher health screening participation than those without a job (OR = 2.822, p < 0.0001). Age, socioeconomic status, and duration of stay were related to health screening behaviors among employed married immigrant women. Nationality, socioeconomic status, duration of stay, and disease status were associated with general health screening behaviors among unemployed immigrant women. The odds ratios decreased as the length of stay increased, regardless of employment status. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that employment status and duration of stay in Korea are significantly associated with general health screening participation. Accordingly, to improve awareness about health screening and health care disparities, programs promoting health screening participation for socially vulnerable classes, including immigrant women and unemployed women, should be instigated. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Health screening Married immigrant women Ethnicity Healthcare disparities

Index Keywords

unemployment South Korea immigrant Chinese mass screening health insurance eligibility married woman national health insurance multiple regression human risk assessment health status Young Adult health program social status womens employment female health services Article medical service employment status social participation adult age community living ethnicity health care disparity womens health immigrant population

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073655482&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16203971&partnerID=40&md5=45efe867d47b3bb5beb5d0736433e8f3

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16203971
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English