Factors associated with influenza vaccination status of residents of a rural community in Japan

Abstract

BackgroundThe rate of influenza vaccination in Japan has declined over the past several decades. It is essential to identify community-specific factors that affect attitudes toward vaccination, but such parameters have not yet been fully determined in Japan. The present study used the Health Belief Model (HBM) to identify perceptions of influenza vaccination in a rural Japanese community.MethodsAll subjects were residents of a rural town in the southern part of Kyoto, Japan. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 846 randomly chosen households (containing 2,665 subjects). The survey explored gender, age, history of influenza, and factors associated with obtaining influenza vaccination, based on the HBM.ResultsA total of 1,182 valid responses (response rate, 44.4%) were received. Sources of information that were associated with vaccination decisions were medical facilities for children (OR = 4.21; 95% CI: 1.17-15.1), workplaces for adults (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.22-4.75), medical facilities, town office and family for elderly subjects (OR = 6.18; 95% CI: 2.42-15.7, OR = 5.59; 95% CI: 2.26-13.8 and OR = 3.29; 95%CI: 1.01-10.6). Subjects, in all age groups, who strongly agreed that the vaccine was effective were significantly more likely to be vaccinated (OR = 10.5; 95%CI: 2.68-41.7 for children; OR = 8.85; 95%CI: 4.61-16.9 for adults; OR = 19.9; 95%CI: 8.28-48.0 for the elderly). The vaccination rate of elderly subjects who expressed concerns regarding adverse vaccine effects (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.78) or who were worried about practical barriers to the vaccination process (OR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05-0.31) was significantly lower than in other populations.ConclusionsOur results indicate that vaccination coverage can be increased if accurate information on personal risk, severity of influenza illness, and efficacy of vaccination are provided by responsible information sources that are easily accessible. Such sources include medical facilities and municipal offices. In addition, barriers and inconveniences associated with vaccination should be removed, especially if they impact on elderly people.

H1N1v at a seroepidemiological glance: is the nightmare over?

“…Such relatively low immunity levels have also been reported from several other countries [25][26][27][28]. Therefore, public health authorities should increase the population's perception of this health threatening virus by providing information on personal risk, severity of influenza illness, and efficacy of vaccination, as previously mentioned [29,30].…”

Factors influencing seasonal influenza vaccination behaviour among elderly people: a systematic review

“…smoking) were associated with vaccination refusal. 42,53 Medical service use was another influencing factor; elderly people who had visited a clinic in the last 3 months 36 or had hospitalisation follow-ups in the previous year 51 were more likely to have been vaccinated. Furthermore, some medical services (i.e.…”

“…39 Elderly people would have more positive beliefs towards vaccination and be more likely to accept vaccination if they received knowledge/ information from healthcare professionals. 32,53 Knowledge/ information had a negative effect on vaccination uptake when elderly people used mass media as knowledge/information sources. 53 However, mass media remained among the most widely cited sources.…”

“…32,53 Knowledge/ information had a negative effect on vaccination uptake when elderly people used mass media as knowledge/information sources. 53 However, mass media remained among the most widely cited sources. 32,53 Health behaviour factors…”

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“…A study on the use of vaccinations across Japan highlighted that when the availability of public information on the risks, severity of illness and efficacy of vaccinations is present, a greater willingness of patients was seen in accepting vaccinations [24].…”