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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

W. Courtland Robinson, PhD¹, Heena Brahmbhatt, PhD², and Jane Park¹. (1) Dept of International Health/Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E8642, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-3892, crobinso@jhsph.edu, (2) Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

During July and August 2005, trained Korean-Chinese and South Korean researchers interviewed a representative sample of 101 adult North Korean women in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China's Jilin Province. The findings represents a cross-section of North Korean female migrants and asylum seekers—including new arrivals and long-stayers, rural and urban dwellers, single and married women. • About 25% said they were deceived in the migration process, either with false promises of work, lies about the costs, or not realizing they would be sold into marriage. • Of the married women, 84 (93.3%) were married in China; of those, more than 60% said they did not fully consent to marry and 20% said they were sold into their current marriage. • 98% of women interviewed said they had ever had sex, 20% said that the first sexual experience involved force, 14% said they had experienced forced sex in China. • Among those with a sexual partner within the last year, 42.4% of women reported at least one type of abuse; 24% reported, being pushed, slapped or held down; 17% said they were punched; and 16% said they were kicked. The women who did not fully consent to their marriage were more likely to have experienced physical abuse. • 68.3% reported at least one STI symptom currently and 71% reported at least one within the last month; 87% had ever heard of an IUD but only 33% had ever heard about condoms; 68.7% of women had ever had an abortion.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe recent patterns of migration of North Koreans into China, particularly the trafficking of women.
• Identify the particular health risks of North Korean migrant and refugee women, including gender-based violence, STIs, and mental health problems.
• Discuss the challenges in seeking to provide care and protection for North Korean women in China.

Keywords: Refugees, Asian Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation