BACKGROUND: Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem solving, and other thinking skills that can interfere with daily life. Dementia is generally experienced by the older people. Nearly 10 million new cases of dementia reported each year, and more than 50% of dementia patients live in low and middle-income countries. With these potentially increasing number of dementia cases, accurate knowledge about dementia is essential for the community as it could be beneficial for the quality of care and reducing its progression. AIM: This study aimed to assess knowledge about dementia in the middle-aged age group and to determine the sociodemographic factors associated with knowledge about dementia in Indonesia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey targeted the middle-aged population (40–59 years old), using an online questionnaire examining sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, occupation), living arrangements, and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale. RESULTS: A total of 1147 respondents were examined, revealing that more than 67% of the participants had poor knowledge about dementia. We revealed that female gender, younger age, and higher occupational level were significantly associated with good knowledge about dementia in various subscales. Interestingly, the living arrangements showed no significant association with knowledge about dementia in any subscale. CONCLUSION: The results emphasize the importance of intensive public health awareness to improve public knowledge about dementia in Indonesia, specifically targeting men and older individuals, as well as those with lower occupational levels.

BackgroundSince 2019, aiming to eliminate periodic rubella outbreaks, the Japanese government has provided a rubella immunization program targeting men born in fiscal years 1972 to 1978, who lacked the opportunity to be vaccinated against rubella in childhood. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with participation in the rubella vaccination program among the first-year target population in 2019.MethodsA total of 11,754 adult men in Japan born in fiscal years 1972 to1978 living in seven rubella epidemic areas (Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka) were selected from a list of a survey agency and invited to complete an Internet questionnaire in March 2020. Recruitment ended when the participants reached 1,680 individuals. Multivariable log binomial regression analyses were performed to explore the association between awareness of rubella prevention and rubella antibody testing in fiscal year 2019, adjusting for social characteristics.ResultsOf the 1,680 men aged 41–47 years who completed the survey, approximately half (51.3%) said that they had received a voucher for the rubella antibody testing and vaccination program. One-quarter (25.9%) of the respondents had used the voucher for rubella antibody testing in 2019, and 6.0% had used the voucher for rubella vaccination in fiscal year 2019. Respondents who understood the government recommendation for rubella antibody testing and vaccination for men of their generation (odds ratio [OR]: 5.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.01–7.53), those with acquaintances who had undergone rubella testing (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.22–1.59), and those who knew that about their lack of opportunity for rubella vaccination (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.11–1.60) tended to undergo rubella antibody testing. Receiving the most recent seasonal influenza vaccination (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.10–1.43) and being able to confirm a rubella vaccination history (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.13–1.46) were also associated with rubella antibody testing.ConclusionsThe ongoing Japanese test-and-vaccinate rubella program has yet to achieve its participation rate goal for 2019. Further dissemination of the government recommendation to the population is necessary, along with improvements in the accessibility of the rubella vaccination program.