Accessibility and difficulties of COVID-19-related healthcare services for Vietnamese migrants in Japan: a cross-sectional online survey

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant gaps in healthcare access for migrants, including Vietnamese migrants in Japan who are young and growing. This study aimed to clarify the accessibility and difficulties related to COVID-19 healthcare services (vaccination, testing, and medical care) and identify factors associated with these difficulties. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to April 2023 through a Vietnamese social media platform with 1.5 million followers. Data from 418 respondents were analysed descriptively, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with experienced difficulties. Independent variables included age, education, residential status, length of stay in Japan, Japanese language proficiency, underlying diseases, and health insurance. Results: Among 418 participants, 47.1% were Technical Intern Trainees, and 93.3% were under 30. Over 95% of the participants perceived that COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and medical care were accessible if needed; however, 26.6% had unmet healthcare needs. The self-reported uptake rate was 90.4% for vaccination and 84.4% for testing among all 418 participants, and 84.0% of 97 participants who tested positive accessed medical care. Among those who received services, 18.8% experienced difficulties with vaccination, 24.1% with testing, and 69.1% with medical care. Major difficulties included cost, administrative requirements, and long waiting times. Factors such as age, education, length of time living in Japan, and underlying diseases were associated with greater difficulties. Japanese language proficiency specifically reduced the odds of difficulties in accessing medical care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.008, confidence interval [CI] = 0.001-0.117, p