The conception and factors that affect the utilization of health care services among foreign migrant workers in Korea

Abstract

With a rapidly increasing number of foreigners in Korea, it is necessary to manage and enhance the health status of migrant workers through effective heath care policy. For this purpose, this study was conducted to find ‘the conception and factors that affect the utilization of health care services among foreign migrant workers in Korea’ and apply the study results for establishing more effective heath care policy. The focus group interview was conducted by inviting 9 foreign migrant workers who had lived in Korea longer than one year and had experience of using health care services. This study employed the Andersen-Newman Behavioral Model which is one of the most widely known and applied behavioral theories for understanding and explaining health care service utilization. The study results showed that foreign migrant workers have experienced linguistic and cultural barriers, lack of proper information, time constraints, and economic burdens in using health care services in Korea. Due to these reasons, they avoid continuing medical care and usually rely on pain medicines. In particular, foreign migrant workers’ lack of social networks inhibits them from accessing immediate information and assistance. This is one of the major barriers in using proper health care services. Based on the results of this study, several policy and practical suggestions were made.