Assessing Mental Illness Risk Among North Korean Refugees and Immigrants Resettled in South Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The global increase in the numbers of refugees and immigrants has made mental health a major public concern. Although they are divided, North and South Korea share a common ethnic heritage.

Objective

To investigate mental illness risk among North Korean immigrants living in South Korea and compare it with that of the general South Korean population.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective, population-based cohort study was based on National Health Insurance claims data from 2007 to 2019, and North Korean immigrants and refugees (NKIRs) and age-matched and sex-matched members of the general population (GP) were included with a 1:3 ratio. Data were analyzed from March 2022 to August 2022.

Exposure

Emigration from North Korea to South Korea

SUBMITTER: Lee R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9582901 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature