Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci. 2023 Aug 28;38(34):e270. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e270.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and identify the demographic, and sociological characteristics and changes in awareness of HCV infection by participating the study for North Korean defectors residing in South Korea.
This study prospectively enrolled participants. Demographic, sociological and clinical data, and questionnaire surveys focused on awareness of HCV infection were collected.
In total, 211 North Korean defectors participated in this study from September 2020 until June 2021. There were 174 women (82.5%), and the overall mean age was 48.9 years (range, 20 to 80 years). Of these participants, 112 (53.1%) had immigrated to South Korea since 2011. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among North Korean defectors was 1.9%. Thirty participants (14.2%) had hepatitis B surface antigens. A huge lack of awareness regarding HCV infection has been observed among North Korean defectors.
This is the first prospective study to investigate the prevalence rate of HCV infection among North Korean defectors residing in South Korea. As North Korean defectors are a vulnerable group concerning HCV infection, they may benefit from HCV screening policies and educational interventions for HCV infection.
本研究旨在调查居住在韩国的朝鲜脱北者丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染的流行率，并确定其人口统计学和社会学特征，以及对 HCV 感染的认知变化。
本研究前瞻性地招募了参与者。收集了人口统计学、社会学和临床数据，并进行了针对 HCV 感染认知的问卷调查。
共有 211 名朝鲜脱北者参加了这项研究，研究时间为 2020 年 9 月至 2021 年 6 月。其中 174 名为女性（82.5%），平均年龄为 48.9 岁（范围为 20 至 80 岁）。这些参与者中，有 112 名（53.1%）是在 2011 年后移民到韩国的。朝鲜脱北者中抗-HCV 抗体的总体阳性率为 1.9%。有 30 名参与者（14.2%）携带乙型肝炎表面抗原。研究发现朝鲜脱北者对 HCV 感染的认知存在严重不足。
这是第一项针对居住在韩国的朝鲜脱北者丙型肝炎病毒感染流行率的前瞻性研究。鉴于朝鲜脱北者是 HCV 感染的脆弱群体，他们可能受益于 HCV 筛查政策和 HCV 感染教育干预措施。
