Current Status of COVID-19 Control Measures at Japanese Daycare Centers and Infectious Disease Prevention Checklist Development

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K02453
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: Showa Women's University (2023-2024); Senzoku Junior College of Childhood Education (2022)
• Principal Investigator: Mukasa Kyoko 昭和女子大学, 人間社会学部, 准教授 (90761700)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥富 庸一 立正大学, 社会福祉学部, 教授 (00375445) ; 菅原 民枝 国立感染症研究所, 感染症疫学センター, 主任研究官 (30435713)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 保育所 / 保育士 / 子ども / 新型コロナウイルス感染症 / 感染症対策 / 保育園サーベイランス / 年間保健計画 / チェックリスト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

After experiencing repeated waves of outbreaks and calm periods, COVID-19 was reclassified as a Category V Infectious Disease, leading to the current situation. We considered that reflecting on and analyzing the infection control measures implemented at daycare centers during the COVID-19 pandemic can contribute to improving future infectious disease prevention in such settings. This study investigated the current state of COVID-19 preventive measures implemented at daycare centers. The results suggest that the Nursery School Absenteeism Surveillance System, infection control manuals, and annual healthcare plans are effective tools for preventing infectious diseases at these facilities. Furthermore, an analysis of vaccination history clarified age-specific rates of vaccination. Based on these findings, we developed a checklist of infection control measures tailored to childcare settings.

Free Research Field

子ども学　健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コロナ禍における保育所の感染症対策の現状や実態を明らかにし、保育現場に即した感染症対策を検討することは、保育所の子どもたちの病気の早期発見や健康の保持・増進につながる。本研究では、研究成果の知見を踏まえ、個人及び集団への感染症対策を検討し、科学的根拠に基づいた感染症対策チェックリストを作成した。保育現場に即した感染症対策のチェックリストは、評価するために有用であり、保育所の感染症防止対策に寄与する。