Factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing and medical care among Myanmar migrants in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Moe Moe Thandar; Azusa Iwamoto; Haru Angelique Hoshino; Kyoko Sudo; Mihoko Fujii; Miwa Kanda; Saki Ikeda; Masami Fujita

doi:10.1186/s41182-024-00621-4

Factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing and medical care among Myanmar migrants in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Trop Med Health. 2024 Aug 6;52(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s41182-024-00621-4.

Authors

Moe Moe Thandar¹, Azusa Iwamoto², Haru Angelique Hoshino³, Kyoko Sudo², Mihoko Fujii⁴, Miwa Kanda², Saki Ikeda², Masami Fujita²

Affiliations

¹ Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mthandar@it.ncgm.go.jp.
² Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Migrants' Neighbor Network & Action (MINNA), Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

Background: Migrants are individuals who move to a different country from their usual place of residence. Japan's migrant population, particularly technical interns and students, has been growing. Even before the pandemic, previous studies have highlighted difficulties faced by migrants in utilizing healthcare services. This study examined the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care among Myanmar migrants in Japan; identified the factors associated with this uptake; and described the difficulties encountered when utilizing these services.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2023 targeting Myanmar migrants over 18 years residing in Japan for more than 6 months. An online self-administered questionnaire in Myanmar language covered socioeconomic characteristics; history of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care; and difficulties encountered while utilizing these services with multiple-choice questions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed separately to identify the factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care.

Results: Among the 207 participants, 52% (n = 108) were under 30 years, 30% (n = 62) were male, and 31% (n = 65) were low-skilled workers (technical interns and students). Overall, 91% (n = 189) had received the COVID-19 vaccination, 76% (n = 157) had been tested for COVID-19, and 43% (n = 68) tested positive. However, only 77% (n = 52) of COVID-19 patients sought medical care. Participants under 30 years of age were less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those aged 30 and older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.88, p = 0.038). Low-skilled workers were less likely to seek medical care compared to those holding other categories of residential status (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.79, p = 0.027). Among service users, 5% faced difficulties with COVID-19 vaccination, 10% with testing, and 17% with receiving medical care. Long waiting times and complex reservation processes were the main difficulties encountered.

Conclusions: The uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care in this sample was reasonably good. However, individuals under 30 years of age showed lower uptake of vaccination, while low-skilled workers had lower uptake of medical care. Strengthening education and support for young migrants and low-skilled workers regarding COVID-19 and other infectious diseases is essential, especially in workplaces and educational institutions.

Keywords: COVID-19; Care; Japan; Migrants; Myanmar; Test; Vaccination.