Identifying the Causes of Nutrition Inadequacy in Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women and Korean Spouses through Qualitative Research

This study examined the possible causes of nutritional inadequacy in Vietnamese immigrant women married to Korean husbands. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 34 Vietnamese marriage immigrant women and 17 Korean spouses participating in or having experienced Nutrition Plus from four Community Health Centers in Seoul, Korea. The study results showed that the nutritional staus of the Vietnamese marriage immigrant women was affected by the unfamiliar Korean food (cultural factor), low household income (economical factor), difficulty in purchasing Vietnamese food (environmental factor), and low accessibility to nutrition support systems (social factor). The Korean husbands' nutritional status was affected by the unfamiliar Vietnamese food (cultural factor), low household income (economic factor), and irregular working conditions (social factors). Nutritional interventions as a public service to the community needs to be developed and applied. Suggestions are presented regarding the future efforts to better understand and meet the nutrition needs of intermarried couples to respond to their heterogeneous needs and deliver adequate nutrition service to ever increasing intermarried families.

The Effect of Parenting Stress and Acculturative Stress on Parenting Efficacy in Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parenting stress and acculturative stress on the parenting efficacy of Vietnamese married migrant women. METHODS: A total of 130 Vietnamese married immigrant women were recruited from the Multicultural Family Support Center in U-city. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics of a t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: The scores of parenting and acculturative stress level were 2.62 and 2.87, parenting efficacy level was 2.98. The Aculturative stress experience was positively correlated with parenting stress (r=0.547, p < 0.001), Parenting stress experience was negatively correlated with parenting efficacy (r=-0.486, p < 0.001), and, acculturative stress experience was negatively correlated with parenting efficacy (r=-0.460, p < 0.001). The multiple regression analysis of acculturative (t=-2.891, p=0.005) and parenting stress (t=-3.818, p < 0.001) showed a significant number of factors that explain parenting efficacy. The model included the two independent variables of acculturation stress and parenting stress which were statistically significant (F=24.966, p < 0.001), and had a descriptive result of 28.5%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest the need for development and implementation of mediation measures such as substantial, cooperative, and systematic parenting programs for women in Vietnam to promote regional community support.

Filipino women's diet and health study (FiLWHEL): design and methods

BACKGROUND: Immigration to South Korea from neighboring Asian countries has risen dramatically, primarily due to marriage between Korean men and foreign women. Although Filipino women rank fourth among married immigrant women, little is known about the health condition of this population. This manuscript focuses on the design and methods of Filipino women's diet and health study (FiLWHEL). SUBJECTS/METHODS: FiLWHEL is a cohort of Filipino women married to Korean men, aged 19 years old or over. The data collection comprised three parts: questionnaire, physical examination, and biospecimen collection. Questionnaires focused on demographic factors, diet, other health-related behaviors, acculturation and immigration-related factors, medical history, quality of life, and children's health information. Participants visited the recruitment site and answered the structured questionnaires through a face-to-face interview. We also measured their anthropometric features and collected fasting blood samples, toenails, and DNA samples. Recruitment started in 2014. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Collection of data is ongoing, and we plan to prospectively follow our cohort participants. We expect that our study, which is focused on married Filipino women immigrants, can elucidate nutritional/health status and the effects of transitional experiences from several lifestyle factors.

Meta-analysis about the Effectiveness of Intervention Programs for Married Immigrant Women

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effect size of intervention programs for married immigrant women as well as to suggest the basic data for health care practices for married migrant women. METHODS: Meta-analysis was conducted with 27 articles from domestic Korea master's and doctorate degree dissertations and Korea academic journals from 2007 to 2014. RESULTS: Overall average effect size was 1.17 and 'parental education' of Intervention Variables was the biggest effect size. Intervention Variables were also identified to be the most desirable in cases when total sessions were applied with 10-18 sessions, 1 session per week, 90-120 minutes per session activity time and with less than 10 subjects in group size. Regarding effect variables, psychological variable group was identified to show the biggest effect size and in sub-variables, self-efficacy was identified to show the biggest effect size. CONCLUSION: If intervention programs for married immigrant women is expanded and conducted based on the results of this study, the program would have significant affect psychological, social and physical health of the married migrant women who currently occupy the important status in our society.

Study of Dietary Attitudes and Diet Management of Married Immigrant Women in Korea according to Residence Period

The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary attitudes and meal management of married immigrant women according to residence period in Korea. The study was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to 220 married immigrant women in Korea. More than one third of the immigrant women who stayed in Korea less than 3 years tended to eat a limited variety of foods. Irregularity of meal time decreased as residence time period increased (P<0.05). As immigrant women stayed longer in Korea, they became more responsible for the diet of their family (P<0.001) and had more time to share breakfast and dinner with all family members (P<0.05). Nearly half of immigrant women in all residence periods indicated their husband's family as the most influential factor in acquiring Korean foods (P<0.05). Immigrant women became more familiar with Korean cooking and recognition of nutritious foods (P<0.001) the longer they lived in Korea and more enjoyable meal times with family (P<0.05). In summary, as the period of residence in Korea increased, the dietary attitudes of immigrant women became more positive towards Korean food and diet culture. Further, immigrant women became more responsible for guiding children's dietary habits and offering healthy foods to their family as residence period increased. Therefore, the government and social programs should conduct constant and organized lessons on Korean culture and cooking according to residence period for immigrant women to build up stable and positive dietary attitudes.

The Experience of Transition in Pregnancy and Childbirth among the Married Immigrant Women in Korea / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to provide understanding of the meaning of the transition experiences in pregnancy and childbirth among the married immigrant women. METHODS: Data was collected through a face-to-face interview from 11 married immigrant women. Their conjugal lives were followed using the hermeneutics phenomenological method developed by van Manen: focusing on the meaning of lived experience. RESULTS: The essential themes that were associated with the transition experiences of the participants' lives during pregnancy and childbirth were as follows: "entering a strange world filled with chaos and tension where they feel like outsiders", "being pregnant and giving birth in increasingly difficult times", "giving birth to a child, which strengthens them to persevere through painful life experiences", "receiving greater support from their families". CONCLUSION: It contributes a deeper understanding of the essence of the transition experiences of married immigrant women who undergo pregnancy and childbirth after immigration. On the basis of this understanding, this study would be likely to highlight the importance of establishing an appropriate health and medicare systems and the expert network of nursing care for immigrant wom.

A Comparative Study on the Postpartum Depression of Vietnamese Marriage Immigrant Women and Korean Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine postpartum depression of Vietnamese married immigrant women and Korean women, and to identify factors that affect postpartum depression. METHODS: Subjects of one hundred and thirty-five women who had delivered a baby within 3 years were part of the study. Of these women, sixty were Vietnamese married immigrant women and sixty -seven were Korean women living in Gangwon Province. Kim's (2005) Korean version of Cox's (1987) EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) was used to evaluate postpartum depression. The reliability of the entire subjects was Cronbach's alpha=.677, Vietnamese women .743, and Korean women .654. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups in demographic data and obstetric history. There were significant differences in EPDS (t=-0.236, p=.814) of the type of household between the two groups. Korean women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 1,2,5, and Vietnamese women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 7, 8, and 10 when comparing item by item. The influencing factors of EPDS in entire subjects were marriage type, satisfaction of relationship with the husband and other household extended family members, and emotional experience during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Postpartum depression has occurred regardless of ethnicity, therefore prevention programs targeted at depression, and family support programs should be developed for all childbearing women.

A Study on Health Promotion Behavior and Contraception in Married Immigrant Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify health promotion behavior and contraception in married immigrant women. METHOD: Seventy-three immigrant women who were married with Korean men were recruited in October 2008. Data was collected by using questionnaires through a personal interview. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULT: The lowest scoring part among health promotion behaviors was exercise. Stress management, eating habits and personal relationships followed. Health promotion behaviors were influenced by the age at marriage, frequency of going out, and health education experiences. Only 35.6% of subjects used contraception. The popular contraceptive methods were IUD, condom, and coitus interruptus. Most subjects got information about contraception from family and friends. 18.1% of subjects had no source of information. The women's education level had a significant influence on their contraceptive knowledge. CONCLUSION: Programs for exercise and contraception are needed to improve health promotion behaviors in married immigrant women. Nurses are an important part in health promotion. The role of nurses must be expanded in all communities through various intervention programs.