Mothers' Attitudes towards Children's Three-Year Health Examination

In the two health centers of Sapporo City, 112 mothers whose children participated in a three-year health examination, and 107 mothers whose children did not, were interviewed about their children's health. More time and expense were necessary for the latter group to come to the health centers. Some children did not attend because of apparent indifference of their mothers to health matters. In both groups there was a tendency for attendance for vaccinations and health examinations to decrease as the child's age advanced, especially after four months. For the purpose of increasing the number of children who receive a three-year health examination, provision of appointments extending over several days with extra examinations in places outside the usual health centers, in addition to making available detailed information on the examination, seem to be effective. A considerable proportion of mothers accepted re-screening for neuroblastoma, for which most could afford 1,000 yen.