The Awareness of Contraception and Experience of Oral Contraceptives among North Korean Defector Women in Republic of Korea

Abstract

Objective: This study attempts to gauge the necessity of contraceptive education for women defecting from North Korea (NKDWs). Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with six NKDWs who had lived in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for more than three years, to understand the subjects' perceptions, experiences, and opinions regarding contraception. Thematic analyses were performed using qualitative data provided in the survey results. Results: Before their defections from North Korea, none of the NKDWs had received any sex education. Loop is the only contraceptive method available to married women in ROK. After defection, NKDWs were provided information about contraceptive options available in China, but they could not fully understand this information. Furthermore, the information they received was not accurate. Thus, NKDWs had a high need for contraceptive sex education. As per our survey, their preferred education method was at least 3 lessons plus 1 : 1 counseling, as necessary. Conclusion: This study indicates that a necessity exists for development of a sex education program for NKDWs to enhance their contraceptive knowledge. Thus, government and health managers have a role to play in developing such a program.

North Korean women’s reproductive health experience

“…The recent rapid increase in AIDS in North Korea observed in a previous study (NKHR, 2017) and the high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in North Korean female refugees (Mun et al., 2015) provide more evidence of unprotected sex. Also in another study, the contraception method most often used was inserting a loop, which is an intrauterine contraceptive device (Han et al., 2019). However, women bought the loop in a market and had it inserted by an unlicensed person due to fear of public stereotyping.…”