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A Study on the Health-Related Issues and Behavior of Vietnamese Migrants Living in Japan: Developing Risk Communication in the Tuberculosis Response

Author

Listed:
  • Sangnim Lee

    (Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Kiyose City 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan
    Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku 113-8421, Tokyo, Japan
    Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku 162-8655, Tokyo, Japan
    TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Nhan Huu Thanh Nguyen

    (TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan
    Master’s Program in Global Leadership, Vietnam Japan University, Hanoi 77000, Vietnam)

  • Shori Takaoka

    (Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku 113-8421, Tokyo, Japan
    TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan)

  • An Dang Do

    (TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan
    Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Yoshihisa Shirayama

    (Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku 113-8421, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Quy Pham Nguyen

    (TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan
    Department of Medical Oncology, Kyoto Miniren Central Hospital, Kyoto-shi 616-8147, Kyoto, Japan)

  • Yusuke Akutsu

    (Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku 113-8421, Tokyo, Japan
    TB Action Network, Kiyose-shi 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Jin Takasaki

    (Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku 162-8655, Tokyo, Japan)

  • Akihiro Ohkado

    (Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Kiyose City 204-8533, Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract

Ensuring a healthy lifestyle for the increasing number of Vietnamese migrants living in Japan is a key public health issue, including infectious disease responses such as tuberculosis (TB). To develop risk communication in relation to the TB response, this study aimed to explore the health issues and health-related behaviors of Vietnamese migrants living in Japan using a mixed method. A survey was conducted on Vietnam-born migrants, aged 18 years and over, in Tokyo. The survey consisted of questions on the following components: (1) demographics; (2) health-related issues and behavior; and (3) health-seeking behavior, information, and communication. A total 165 participants participated in the survey. The majority of the participants were young adults. 13% of the participants responded that they were concerned about their health. Moreover, 22% and 7% of the participants reported weight loss and respiratory symptoms, respectively. 44% of the participants answered they had no one to consult about their health in Japan when they needed it, and 58% answered they had no awareness of any Vietnamese-language health consultation services. Logistic regression analysis revealed that people who contact family members living in Vietnam or overseas using social networking services (SNSs) when they needed to consult someone about their health (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52–24.43) were more likely to present with one or more of the typical TB symptoms, compared to those who did not consult someone in this manner. Current smokers (OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.15–8.23) were more likely to have health problems compared to non-smokers. The key informant interviews revealed that individual factors, the health system, and socio-environmental factors may hinder Vietnamese migrants’ health-seeking and health-information-seeking behaviors in Japan. TB risk communication approaches for migrants need to be developed considering their health-related behaviors while addressing their health needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangnim Lee & Nhan Huu Thanh Nguyen & Shori Takaoka & An Dang Do & Yoshihisa Shirayama & Quy Pham Nguyen & Yusuke Akutsu & Jin Takasaki & Akihiro Ohkado, 2023. "A Study on the Health-Related Issues and Behavior of Vietnamese Migrants Living in Japan: Developing Risk Communication in the Tuberculosis Response," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6150-:d:1172648
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Prakash Shakya & Masako Tanaka & Akira Shibanuma & Masamine Jimba, 2018. "Nepalese migrants in Japan: What is holding them back in getting access to healthcare?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
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