A study of medical utilization and health status for migrant workers in Korea

Hong, Sung Kwon; Ou, Sang Woo; Lim, Kang Eun; Choi, Kyung Man; Cho, Be Long; Huh, Bong Yul

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The number of illegal migrant workers has been increasing in Korea since late 1997 in what was called the IMF era. This study was conducted to evaluate and to recognize the medical utilization and health Status for migrant workers in Korea. The goal of this study was to understand the epidemiological characteristics of the migrant workers and family physician's role as a health provider and gate keeper to them and to provide basic data for public health policy.
METHODS
In September 1999, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the migrant workers in Seoul, Sung-Nam, Pucheon and An-Yang. We classified the reasons for clinical encounters and the prescribed drugs by reviewing the medical records of all patients who visited a clinic of shelter for migrant workers in Sung-Nam from January to December 1998 and analysed the report according to death certification of the shelter for migrant workers in Sung Nam from 1994 to September 1999
RESULTS
The major distribution of nationality were from China, Mongo, and Bangladesh (86.9 %). They were mostly between 30 and 39 years old, males are, and unmarried. Most had high school education. The average income was 756,700 won and the average working hours were 11.5 hours per day in migrant workers being in worse condition than those of Korean workers. Classified according to systems, the respiratory(21.2%), musculoskeletal (20.6%), digestive(15.8%), and cardiovascular(12.5%) symptoms were common. Repayment for death was different between before (87.7%) and after IMF era (13.0%), in late 1997. Average medical expenditure was 43,552 won comprising 5% of the total income of subjects only. Most of them did not benefit from medical insurance.
CONCLUSION
Migrant workers' situation seemed poor. The patterns of the disease' were similar to those who visit family medicine clinics in general. Family physicians should take more interest in providing a more effective and better care to migrant workers.