Urban veterinary accessibility and community well-being in Japan: a cross-sectional analysis using regional indicators

Abstract

Access to medical care is important not only for humans, but also for companion animals. However, the distribution of veterinary services and their potential benefits to human well-being remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between veterinary clinics and community well-being in urban areas of Japan. The dataset included total 191 wards in Tokyo (a metropolitan city) and 19 ordinance-designated cities. Veterinary clinical locations were obtained from a high-resolution commercial database provided by ZENRIN Marketing Solutions Co., Ltd. Community well-being scores were obtained from the Digital Agency of Japan. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to predict the well-being scores based on the number of veterinary or human clinics per 100,000 residents. The results of veterinary clinics showed positive satisfaction with environmental symbiosis (β=1.17), natural disasters (β=1.04), community connections (β=1.00), self-efficacy (β=1.18), health status (β=1.32), employment and income (β=0.89), recreation and entertainment (β=0.91), culture and arts (β=1.53), abundance of educational opportunities (β=1.34), and business creation (β=1.03), while the results of human clinics showed negative satisfaction with public spaces (β= −0.69). Findings suggest that residents who place a high value on pets and the care they require may be attracted to areas with high concentrations of art, entertainment, education, and business resources. Although unmeasured confounding factors were related, this study posits a new assumption that the enrichment of animal welfare services is associated with regional well-being.