Research on supportive environments and inter-sectoral collaboration in the process of health promotion policy making within municipalities in Kanto district, Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the relationship between supportive environmental indicators of health promotion policy and inter-sectoral collaboration at local levels of the Kanto district, Japan. Researchers conducted a survey by mail, targeting health policy administrators in 509 municipalities in the Kanto district, Japan (60.2% of responders). Of these responses, we analyzed 142 people (27.9%) answers. Supportive environmental indicators items included ‘program and policy,’ ‘organization and group,’ and ‘providing information.’ Additionally, inter-sectoral collaboration items included the extent of consideration for other sectors’ policies, if there was planning committee, and the committee members. The number of municipalities that established a lot or some of supportive environmental indicators in health promotion policy was 55 (38.8%) for ‘program and policy,’ 37 (26.0%) for ‘organization and group,’ and 37 (36.6%) for ‘providing information.’ The logistic regression analysis showed the relationship between supportive environmental indicators and having other sections’ policies related to health, establishing the planning committee, and involving other sectional members for the committee. This study suggests that establishment targeting of supportive environmental indicators in health promotion policy was not prominently promoted in municipalities. The present findings indicate the need to enable supportive environment in health promotion policy by inter-sectoral collaboration in political, organizational and individual levels in municipalities.