Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among community dwelling north korean female defectors in South Korea

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among community dwelling North Korean female defectors in South Korea. Methods: The study subjects, North Korean female defectors, were 1,440 adults registered in Home visiting health care service provided from public health center in 10 counties of South Korea, from April to December 2011. Nurses of the region visited subjects' home and collected information on immigration factors(years of defectors from North Korea, period of stay in the third country, immigration year into South Korea), past medical history(communicable and non-communicable diseases), life style(smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity), mental health related factors(stress, depressive symptom, suicidal ideation) by using structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out for the suicidal ideation related factors. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 10.1%. The age-adjusted prevalence of suicidal ideation according to less 3, 3-6, and 7 years or over duration of stay in the third country were 7.5%, 12.2%, 13.3% and according to 1-3, 4-6, 7 years or over length of residence in South Korea were 7.1%, 12.3%, 14.7%, respectively. After adjusting for potential covariates, suicidal ideation related factors included age(50 or over: odds ratio[OR] 2.42; 95% confidence interval[95% CI]=1.13-5.19 compared with aged 19-39), alcohol consumption(OR 2.39, 95% CI=1.31-4.34), years of residence in South Korea (7 years or more: OR 2.65, 95% CI=1.03-6.82, compared with 1-3 years). Conclusion: This result imply that suicidal ideation of North Korean female defectors was affected years of residence in South Korea.