Health Policy Manag.  2015 Mar;25(1):22-30. 10.4332/KJHPA.2015.25.1.22.

Health behavior of North Korean, multicultural and Korean family adolescents in Korea: the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2011-2013

• Kim H
• Han MA
• Park J
• Ryu SY
• Choi SW

• KMID: 1967212
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2015.25.1.22

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study investigated the health behaviors of North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents in Korea.
METHODS
The study subjects were from the Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey (2011-2013) dataset. We identified 1,954 multicultural family adolescents and twice as many Korean family adolescents. Frequency analysis was used to assess nativity and nationality of the parents, and the chi-square test was used to compare the general characteristics and health behavior of the multicultural and Korean families. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to compare health behavior between multicultural and Korean families.
RESULTS
Of the 5,862 multicultural and Korean family adolescents, current smoking in North Korean family adolescents was higher than Korean family adolescents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-3.35) after adjusting for sex, school year, perceived school record, family structure, father's education, mother's education, perceived economic status, place of residence, and survey year. A high drinking rate was significantly greater in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents (aOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.89-4.57). Odds ratios for sufficient physical activity of vigorous intensity (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.31-2.54) were significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents than in Korean family adolescents. Fast food intake (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.34-2.86) was significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents.
CONCLUSION
There were differences in health behavior between North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents. Further studies are needed to investigate the factors associated with these differences.

Keyword

Health behavior; Cultural diversity; Democratic People's Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Chi-Square Distribution
Cultural Diversity
Dataset
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Drinking
Education
Ethnic Groups
Fast Foods
Health Behavior*
Humans
Korea*
Logistic Models
Motor Activity
Odds Ratio
Parents
Risk-Taking*
Smoke
Smoking
Smoke