title: Factors that affect voluntary vaccination of children in Japan.
abstract: Some important vaccinations are not included in the routine childhood immunization schedule in Japan. Voluntary vaccinations are usually paid as an out-of-pocket expense. Low voluntary vaccination coverage rates and high target disease incidence are assumed to be a consequence of voluntary vaccination. Therefore, this study aimed to explore factors associated with voluntary vaccination patterns in children. We conducted an online survey of 1243 mothers from a registered survey panel who had at least one child 2 months to <3 years of age. The voluntary vaccination mainly correlated positively with annual household income and mothers' positive opinions about voluntary vaccinations, but negatively with number of children. Financial support, especially for low income households and households with more than one child, may motivate parents to vaccinate their children. Communication is also an important issue. More opportunities for education and information about voluntary vaccinations should be provided to mothers without distinguishing between voluntary and routine vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan. Electronic address: shono@my-pharm.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shono
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Policy and Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan. Electronic address: mkondo@md.tsukuba.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014611:Vaccination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: Mumps vaccine; Rotavirus vaccine; Self-paid vaccine; Varicella vaccine; Voluntary vaccination