J Korean Community Nurs.  2004 Dec;15(4):655-665.

A Study on the Health Status among the Homeless in Shelters

• Park HS
• Lyu SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was aimed to investigate the physical and psychological health status of the homeless in shelters, and to suggest the basic data for caring them.
METHODS
Study subjects were 153 homeless people who were registered in the shelters of Dong-gu, Busan, between September 1st, 2003 and March 15th, 2004. Data on their physical health status were collected by measuring weight and height (BMI), taking X-rays (tuberculosis), testing blood (syphilis, glucose, HBsAb and HBsAb). Psychological health status was measured with Rosenberg's self-esteem scale and Beck's depression scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi2-test, t-test or F-test using SPSS (Win10.0). at alpha=0.05, two tailed test.
RESULTS
Mean age was 42.8 years old, high school graduated was 43.8%, and 60.8% didn't have medical benefits. Singles were 47.7%, 34.7% had bad family relationships and 39.2% hoped to live with family. 96.1% had a normal in chest X-ray test, and 96.1% had negative syphilis test 92.2% were negative for hepatitis antigen, 51.0% were antibody, 25.5% had hypertension, and 60.8% had a normal BMI test, and 84.3% had a normal blood sugar test. 39.2% were severely depressed, and 75.8% had a normal self-esteem level.
CONCLUSION
Physical health status of the homeless was relatively good. However, depression levels were high and self-esteem was low. Therefore, it is necessary to take an action to improve the psychological health status for the homeless.

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose
Busan
Depression
Family Relations
Glucose
Hepatitis
Hope
Humans
Hypertension
Syphilis
Thorax
Blood Glucose
Glucose