The Health Management Experience of Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women Living in the City

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the health management experience of Vietnamese Married Immigrant Women living in the city. Methods: The study participants were 11 Vietnamese immigrant women residing in the urban area who felt bad about their health. Data collection was conducted in depth through individual interviews, and the collected data were analyzed through Strauss & Corbin data analysis. Results: The core category was “ health is not a necessity but a choice in a strange land called Korea ” . The contextual conditions were, “ The hard thing-exposing “ myself ” to the world ” , and “ Hurts hidden, to be away from people ’ s eyes ” . For the causal condition, the categories of “ Unfamiliar life to live alone ” , “ Unfamiliar life different from expectation ” , and “ Symptoms of body suddenly suffering alone ” , were derived. Through action-interaction, the immigrant women revealed that in their Korean social-structural context, they tended to follow “ Health pushed away in turbulent life ” . The intervening conditions were “ a person who is able to help me ” , “ places that can give a helping hand nearby ” , and “ Vietnamese women ’ s grit ” . A Vietnamese married immigrant woman had her own “ Health in the chain with life ” . As a result, they gained “ Health, which is a top priority in life ” or “ Health oppressed by the weight of life ” . Conclusion: This study enhanced the understanding of the healthcare process of Vietnamese married immigrant women living in urban areas.