Purpose: This study aimed to clarify information considered necessary by mothers of girls approaching the recommended age for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for making decisions whether or not to have their daughters vaccinated.

Methods: All research subjects were from one city and one town of Prefecture A in the Tohoku Region in Japan. Fourteen elementary schools provided consent to participate in the survey. Of the 684 parents/guardians of the 5th and 6th grade girls at these schools, 272 responded to the postal self-administered questionnaire survey. The data comprised the freely described content of the questionnaire. Berelson’s content analysis method was used to analyze the “information considered necessary by mothers when making decisions concerning HPV vaccination.”

Results: Of the 272 respondents, 129 provided freely written descriptions. Of these, the descriptions of 125 mothers (mean age, 41.7 ± 5.1 years) were subjected to analysis. The content of the subjects’ descriptions could be divided into 279 recording units. The number of recording units per respondent was 2.2. Ten categories were formed pertaining to information considered necessary by the mothers of girls not yet vaccinated against HPV when making decisions concerning HPV vaccination. These included, in order of the number of recording units from high to low, “Actual data demonstrating the degree and incidence of specific adverse events”, “Preventive effect of the HPV vaccine on cervical cancer”, “Basic knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer”, “Safety of the vaccine over a prolonged period after vaccination” and “Vaccination site and schedule”.

Conclusions: When making decisions concerning HPV vaccination, mothers sought information on basic knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer. They also sought information on the effects, adverse reactions, safety over a prolonged period after administration, and limitations of the vaccine.

Objective: This study explore perspectives on the promotion of physical activity for the prevention of obesity in childhood. Specifically how schools can effectively encourage children-both girls and boys from different social and cultural backgrounds, to engage in more physical activity will be investigated.

Methods: To generate practical idea to promote physical activity among young children, between March and November in 2004, interviews were employed with the heads of Physical Education departments from four secondary schools in the United Kingdom suggested by Kent Health and Education Partnership.

Results: The following themes were identified; The provision of written school policy; health promotion through walking to school: gender issues; psychosocial environment; inclusion of parents: enjoyment of physical activity: the provision of a variety of physical activities: the relationship between staff and children: Physical environment: Equality of Opportunity: Improvement of teaching in primary schools: Teaching health benefits of physical activity.

Conclusions: It could be concluded as follows: the provision of a written school policy could be useful to remind teachers of the ways of promoting an active life among children. Friends or parents should be included to encourage school children to engage in physical activity; Efforts to improve the quality of school staff should be made. The importance of the relationship between teachers and children is to be taken accounts into; A variety of physical activities should be provided to encourage children from different social and cultural backgrounds to engage in physical activity, regardless of age, sex, ability and social background; Appropriate facilities and equipment should be provided so that all the children have access to physical activity easily, without barriers, regardless of their ability level, sex and size; Efforts should be made to improve teaching in primary schools where children develop their exercise ability. In addition, teaching health benefits of physical activity should be continued to provide an opportunity for children to think of a healthy life style.