Disaster preparedness awareness and associated factors among parents of children aged under 2 years in Japan: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess disaster preparedness awareness and actual preparedness among parents of children aged under 2 years in Japan and to identify associated sociodemographic factors.

Methods: The study was conducted in six wards of City A, a metropolitan area in Japan. Data were collected from 376 parents of children who underwent health check-ups at 3–4 months and 18 months between August 2023 and June 2024 through local government programs. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the number and percentage of respondents for each variable. Multiple regression analysis was performed, with overall disaster awareness scores as the dependent variable. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05. Additionally, a heat map was created to compare disaster awareness across different attributes and identify patterns.

Results: Key factors associated with disaster preparedness awareness among parents were family discussions about what to do during a disaster (β = .121, p = .021), participation in community evacuation drills (β = .147, p = .003), and understanding the hazard map of the area in which they live (β = .198, p < .001).

Conclusions: The acquisition of information through opportunities for interpersonal communication and exposure to interpersonal influences affects disaster awareness. Because parents with infants and toddlers are highly interested in disaster preparedness, local governments should devise ways to reach this target group.