Service provision conditions for foreign residents in municipalities in Japan / Journal of Rural Medicine

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study examined the actual conditions of service provision to foreign residents (FRs) addressing prevention of lifestyle-related diseases (LRDs) and disaster preparedness/disaster responses (DPRs) in Japanese municipalities.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire with representatives of public health nurses in each municipality in Japan from December 2021 to January 2022.Results: Services considering FRs are more likely to be implemented in cities than in towns, and in municipalities where FRs account for ≥2.2% of the population (proportion of FRs in the Japanese population at the time of the study) than in those with fewer FRs. Cities have larger populations and greater financial resources than towns. Factors associated with the implementation of services and measures necessary for providing services to FRs were the classification of the municipality as a city, a high percentage of FRs, and large variation in corresponding nationalities/countries of origin.Conclusions: Cross-disciplinary efforts and collaborations need to be strengthened to share available resources within local governments and experiences in providing services for FRs in other divisions/sections, rather than considering only how to provide services for FRs in the public health division/section.