J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2016 May;20(2):95-102. 10.21896/jksmch.2016.20.2.95.

Maternal and Child Health in Multi-Cultural Family in Korea and Policy Suggestion

• Lee JE
• Chung HW

• KMID: 2449538
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2016.20.2.95

Abstract

In Korea, international marriage and inflow of foreigners have increased, as globalization leads to increase of human and resource movement, unbalanced sex ratios in marriage markets, and aging phenomenon, and decrease of fertility rate. The number of marriage-based immigrant women and their children is expected to be growing continuously. Because the majority of immigrant women are between 18 and 49 years old and permanently reside in Korea, there is a high possibility for them to give birth in the country. Many immigrant women get pregnant before acquiring nationality in Korea or without having enough time to adapt themselves to new circumstances. Thus, it is critical for them to have basic reproductive health care and health protection services. Also, there is a great need of maternal and child health services for multi-cultural family. marriage-based immigrant women are more likely to be vulnerable to injuries and diseases due to the relatively low level of income, education, and language skill, as well as cultural and environmental differences from their home country. Despite of the great health care needs for women and children in multi-cultural family, it lacks decent health care services for them and also there is no integrated national survey on their health. Therefore, it is necessary to establish integrated research system to understand the current health conditions and problems of women and children in multi-cultural family. Additionally, we need to set up the long-term life-support policies concerning different situations in multi-cultural families.

Keyword

immigrant women; multi-cultural family; health; welfare

MeSH Terms

Aging
Birth Rate
Child Health Services
Child Health*
Child*
Delivery of Health Care
Education
Emigrants and Immigrants
Ethnic Groups
Female
Humans
Internationality
Korea*
Marriage
Parturition
Reproductive Health
Sex Ratio