Vaccination coverage of foreign children and their parents' views on immunization services in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

DOI Web Site 13 References

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 群馬県東部地域の在日外国人児童生徒の予防接種状況と保護者の意識
  • グンマケン トウブ チイキ ノ ザイニチ ガイコクジン ジドウ セイト ノ ヨボウ セッシュ ジョウキョウ ト ホゴシャ ノ イシキ

Search this article

Description

Objectives The aim was to evaluate vaccination coverage among foreign children living in an urban area of Gunma Prefecture, Japan and to examine their parents' views concerning the local immunization services.<br/>Methods A total of 321 foreign children aged 6 to 18 years in five international schools participated in school health examinations and provided vaccination information. Among the parents, 304 completed a questionnaire on their views about the immunization services. Another questionnaire survey was conducted in nursery schools for parents of 4,629 Japanese children aged 0 to 6 years. Of the total, 3,811 (82.3%) responded, and 2,911 questionnaires answered by the parents who had children aged 3 years and older were eligible for the analysis.<br/>Results The study found a vaccination coverage of 86.2% for diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP), 86.5% for poliovirus vaccine, and 87.7% for BCG among the foreign children. Of their parents, 84% were born in Brazil. One third of the foreign children vaccinated for DTP, poliovirus and/or BCG had received each vaccine in Japan, while the others children had been vaccinated in their home countries. Among 162 parents with children immunized in Japan, 77% received the necessary information about immunization services from the local municipal office, and 80% had no major problems. However, 15% felt the language barrier. Among the Japanese children, non-vaccination rates for DTP, poliovirus vaccine, and BCG were 18.5%, 9.9%, and 3.5%, respectively. Of the Japanese parents, 85% knew immunization schedules from the municipal office, and 51% asked for night-time and holiday vaccination sites.<br/>Conclusion These results suggest that vaccination coverage for DTP, poliovirus vaccine or BCG is relatively high among foreign children living in Japan. To promote higher rates of vaccination for those residents, however, accessibility of the municipal consultation services in foreign languages should be improved.

Journal

References(13)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top