Safety and Health at Work Vol. 14 Issue 3 2023
Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea (Original article)
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 14 Issue 3 2023
Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea (Original article)
Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea (Original article)
Subject
Changing workplace, Migrant workers, Republic of Korea, Working conditions
Description
Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population.
Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization.
Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07 -20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50 -10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater
prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32).
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.
Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization.
Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07 -20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50 -10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater
prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32).
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.
Creator
Ohwi Kwon, Ji-Hun Song, Jeong-Ok Kong, Seong-Won Ma, Young Shin Lee, Joonho Ahn
Source
journal homepage: www.e-shaw.net
Publisher
Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
Date
21 August 2023
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 14 Issue 3 2023
Files
Citation
Ohwi Kwon, Ji-Hun Song, Jeong-Ok Kong, Seong-Won Ma, Young Shin Lee, Joonho Ahn, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 14 Issue 3 2023
Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/3458.
Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/3458.