Residential Area vs. Home Environment: Analysis of Surrounding Factors on Children’s Health Using Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in Japan

This study examines the factors that influence the incidence of influenza infections in children, specifically how residential area and home environment impact the health of children. Using the Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century in Japan, data from the third survey in 2004 and eighth survey in 2009 are analyzed by using logistic regression with maximum likelihood estimation and panel analysis that control for individual effects. The results suggest that residential areas have a significant influence on the health of children. High land prices also have a positive effect on infection, thus suggesting that the probability of influenza infection is higher in densely populated areas. The results also show that influenza infections are suppressed in big cities as a result of better access to medical institutions and strong municipality support for raising children, which are necessary from a preventive medicine perspective. Additionally, increased opportunities of human contact may initiate the onset of influenza. This study uses two dummies, the employment status of mothers and school attendance status of children, to show that it is crucial to avoid going outdoors or interacting with people during an epidemic. Particularly, measures such as allowing mothers to work online may be effective in reducing influenza incidence during an epidemic.