Amagasaki City Research Articles

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic achievement of elementary and junior high school students: analysis using administrative data from Amagasaki City

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a global impact on children’s education. In Amagasaki City, Japan, elementary and junior high schools were temporarily closed for approximately three months during the pandemic. This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance in mathematics and the Japanese language among public elementary and junior high school students in Grades 1 to 8. Using data from the Amagasaki City Survey of Academic Achievement and Life Conditions from 2018 to 2021, this study compares changes in the academic performance of cohorts with and without COVID-19 experience (the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cohorts, respectively) 7 and 19 months after school closures using the difference-in-differences method. The findings indicate that the negative impact of the pandemic on academic performance was more pronounced for math than for the Japanese language, both at 7 months and 19 months after the closures. Math scores showed considerable decreases of 0.133 standard deviations (SDs) and 0.249 SDs at 7 and 19 months after the closures, respectively, while Japanese language scores were not significantly affected 7 months after closures but decreased by 0.113 SDs at 19 months after the closures. Furthermore, the negative effects on Japanese language scores were more significant for individuals in younger grades, whereas math scores were consistently affected across all grades. These results have important implications for policymakers and educators struggling to overcome the learning losses among children caused by the pandemic.

The Possibility of Wide Area Evacuation in the Event of Natural Disasters: A Survey in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture

In industrial clusters that are affected by earthquakes and tsunamis, advance countermeasures are necessary to ensure the continuity of business operations of companies. This article presents the results of a questionnaire survey of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, to determine the current status of disaster countermeasures, and a questionnaire survey of residents’ awareness of risks and their current countermeasures.

Association of early bedtime at 3 years of age with higher academic performance and better non-cognitive skills in elementary school

This study investigated the relationship between sleep habits in early childhood and academic performance and non-cognitive skills in the first grade. We retrospectively analyzed a longitudinal population-based cohort from birth through early childhood, up to elementary school, in Amagasaki City, Japan. The primary outcome was academic performance in the first grade. Other outcomes were self-reported non-cognitive skills. Overall, 4395 children were enrolled. Mean national language scores for children with bedtimes at 18:00–20:00, 21:00, 22:00, and ≥ 23:00 were 71.2 ± 19.7, 69.3 ± 19.4, 68.3 ± 20.1, and 62.5 ± 21.3, respectively. Multiple regression analysis identified bedtime at 3 years as a significant factor associated with academic performance. However, sleep duration was not significantly associated with academic performance. Bedtime at 3 years also affected non-cognitive skills in the first grade. Diligence decreased with a later bedtime (21:00 vs. 18:00–20:00; odds ratio [OR]: 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–3.09; 22:00 vs. 18:00–20:00; OR: 2.15, 95% CI 1.37–3.38; ≥ 23:00 vs. 18:00–20:00; OR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.29–4.20). Thus, early bedtime at 3 years may be associated with a higher academic performance and better non-cognitive skills in the first grade. Optimum early-childhood sleep habits may positively impact academic future.

Association of mesothelioma deaths with neighborhood asbestos exposure due to a large-scale asbestos-cement plant.

A causal relationship between mesothelioma and occupational asbestos exposure is well known, while some studies have shown a relationship to non-occupational exposures. The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of mesothelioma death associated with neighborhood asbestos exposure due to a large-scale asbestos-cement (AC) plant in Amagasaki, Japan, adjusting properly risk factors including occupational exposures. We conducted a nested case-control study in which a fixed population of 143,929 residents who had been living in Amagasaki City between 1975 and 2002 were followed from 2002 to 2015. All 133 cases and 403 matched controls were interviewed about their occupational, domestic, household, and neighborhood asbestos exposures. Odds ratios (ORs) for mesothelioma death associated with the neighborhood exposure were estimated by a conditional logistic-regression model. For quantitative assessments for neighborhood exposure, we adopted cumulative indices for individuals' residential histories at each residence-specific asbestos concentration multiplied by the duration during the potential exposure period of 1957-1975 (crocidolite). We observed an increasing, dose-dependent risk of mesothelioma death associated with neighborhood exposure, demonstrating that ORs in the highest quintile category were 21.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.8-79.2) for all, 23.7 (95% CI 3.8-147.2) for males, and 26.0 (95% CI 2.8-237.5) for females compared to the lowest quintile, respectively. A quantitative assessment for risk of mesothelioma deaths, adjusting for occupational and non-occupational exposures separately, showed a dose-dependent association with neighborhood exposure and no substantial gender differences in magnitude.

PS-P14-4: ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE “ADEQUATE SALT INTAKE” IN AMAGASAKI CITY

To promote the prevention and treatment of hypertension, it is essential to educate the public. Since 2015, the city of Amagasaki, where I practice, has been conducting activities to promote health through multidisciplinary cooperation. First of all, volunteers from the Amagasaki City Medical Association gathered to form the “Amagasaki Adequate Salt Intake Promotion Committee”. Next, in a tie-up with Amagasaki City's Health Up Amagasaki Strategic Project, which has been focusing on measures against metabolic syndrome, the committee has reserved a hotel for a day to hold a hands-on forum where citizens can participate in not only lectures on health and medicine, but also a movie screening and low-sodium cooking experiences. The event has been held in a hands-on manner. In addition, active interventions have been made for a wide range of age groups, such as active intervention for particularly high-risk subjects in health checkups, health checkups by placing health checkup vehicles in convenience store parking lots for younger generations who are less likely to receive checkups, and 2.2 g salt equivalent school lunches. In particular, forums for citizens, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, universities, the Japanese Association of Hypertension, and Amagasaki City Administration have worked together to devise new approaches every year for four years, which have resulted in the participation of a large number of citizens. The key point is that we aimed to create a social environment in which salt reduction can be implemented as a matter of course in society, rather than relying solely on the efforts of individuals. Another feature of the event was that it was not targeted only at the elderly, who are highly interested in health, but was also designed to be an interactive event that young people can participate in with their children. In the future, we plan to continue our efforts with our colleagues to build a future in which “Adequate Salt Intake” is a part of daily life, while involving more industries.

Evaluation of public health nurse-led health counseling programs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Amagasaki City, Japan.

We evaluated whether Amagasaki health counseling programs led by public health nurses (PHNs) are contribute to improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and CVD mortality among adult residents. This cross-sectional study used a before-and-after comparative design. We evaluated data from health checkups and mortality before and after Amagasaki health promotion programs. Population levels of CVD risk factors body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, γ-glut amyl trans peptidase (γ-GTP), serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared between 2008 and 2012 when the intervention with the Amagasaki health counseling program started from 2008. In addition, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were compared between 2003-2007 and 2008-2012. Mean value of most CVD risk factors improved and the SMR for AMI declined, which could be attributable in part to the effort of intensive health education and counseling.

兵庫県尼崎市南部における工場に存在する神社緑地の特性

兵庫県尼崎市南部における工場に存在する神社緑地の特性

A STUDY ON THE CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICY SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT FOR CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND IN AMAGASAKI CITY

In the 1960s, many municipalities set up children's playground because of the high number of traffic accidents in which children playing on the road were victims. Amagasaki city, the study site, also established children's playground （Kodomo Hiroba）to prevent children's accidents. This project was started in 1968. There were 216 children's playground in the city as of 2017. One of the characteristics of these playground is that the municipalities set the outline for their installation and proceeded with the installation. Therefore, the project can be developed in accordance with the actual situation of the municipality.

The Benefit of Using Public Records for a Work Task: Notes on the Organisational Use of Public Records by Internal Users in Amagasaki City

The Benefit of Using Public Records for a Work Task: Notes on the Organisational Use of Public Records by Internal Users in Amagasaki City

Site Investigation Results and Verification of Liquefaction Countermeasure Effect by Groundwater Lowering Method at Tsukiji in Amagasaki City

Site Investigation Results and Verification of Liquefaction Countermeasure Effect by Groundwater Lowering Method at Tsukiji in Amagasaki City

The feature of planning policy of children's playground in Amagasaki city

The feature of planning policy of children's playground in Amagasaki city

Approach of criminal psychology to street crimes: Countermeasures for snatching in Amagasaki City

Approach of criminal psychology to street crimes: Countermeasures for snatching in Amagasaki City

Population‐based cohort study on health effects of asbestos exposure in Japan

Occupational asbestos exposure occurs in many workplaces and is a well‐known cause of mesothelioma and lung cancer. However, the association between nonoccupational asbestos exposure and those diseases is not clearly described. The aim of this study was to investigate cause‐specific mortality among the residents of Amagasaki, a city in Japan with many asbestos factories, and evaluate the potential excess mortality due to established and suspected asbestos‐related diseases. The study population consisted of 143 929 residents in Amagasaki City before 1975 until 2002, aged 40 years or older on January 1, 2002. Follow‐up was carried out from 2002 to 2015. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by sex, using the mortality rate of the Japanese population as reference. A total of 38 546 deaths (including 303 from mesothelioma and 2683 from lung cancer) were observed. The SMRs in the long‐term residents’ cohort were as follows: death due to all causes, 1.12 (95% CI, 1.10‐1.13) in men and 1.07 (95% CI, 1.06‐1.09) in women; lung cancer, 1.28 (95% CI, 1.23‐1.34) in men and 1.23 (95% CI, 1.14‐1.32) in women; and mesothelioma, 6.75 (95% CI, 5.83‐7.78) in men and 14.99 (95% CI, 12.34‐18.06) in women. These SMRs were significantly higher than expected. The increased SMR of mesothelioma suggests the impact of occupational asbestos exposure among men and nonoccupational asbestos exposure among women in the long‐term residents’ cohort. In addition, the high level of excess mortality from mesothelioma has persisted, despite the mixture of crocidolite and chrysotile no longer being used for three or four decades.

The problem of vacant stores in the retail markets of Amagasaki city

The problem of vacant stores in the retail markets of Amagasaki city

Survey on the Status of Smoking Inside Eating Establishments in the Cities of Kobe and Amagasaki.

The Hyogo Prefectural Government has been enforcing a smoking ban ordinance since April 2013. The present survey was conducted to determine the extent to which the smoking ban has been successfully implemented in eating establishments in Kobe City and Amagasaki City.Methods and Results:The Health and Welfare Department of the Hyogo Prefectural Government provided a list of eating establishments in Kobe and Amagasaki City. From these, we chose 1,300 from each city using random number generation. Responses were obtained from 310 establishments in Kobe City (response rate: 23.8%) and 297 in Amagasaki City (22.8%). Overall, 58.1% of the establishments surveyed in Kobe City were aware of the ordinance, a recognition rate significantly higher than that of Amagasaki City, where only 45.5% of eateries were aware of the ordinance (P=0.003). Of the Kobe City eateries, 31.7% had succeeded in implementing a complete ban on smoking. In Amagasaki City, the rate was significantly lower, at just 13.4% (P<0.001). A logistic regression analysis showed that coffee shops, Japanese-style taverns, bars, and eating establishments that served alcohol were the independent significant predictors of low compliance. Kobe City restaurants, women, and families were the independent significant predictors of high compliance with the complete smoking ban. The rates of recognition and implementation of the complete smoking ban were significantly lower in Amagasaki City than in Kobe City. There needs to be a strong and continuous socialization campaign to promote the ordinance.

戦時期～戦後改革期における市街地形成と地主・小作農民 : 兵庫県尼崎市を事例として

戦時期～戦後改革期における市街地形成と地主・小作農民 : 兵庫県尼崎市を事例として

Quantitative Studies on Land-use Changes for Manufacturing and Residential-industrial Mixed Use Areas in Amagasaki City

Quantitative Studies on Land-use Changes for Manufacturing and Residential-industrial Mixed Use Areas in Amagasaki City

市民派および組織政党の候補者と「地元」 : 1997年尼崎市議会選挙を事例として

市民派および組織政党の候補者と「地元」 : 1997年尼崎市議会選挙を事例として

The problem of vacant houses in Nagasu district, Amagasaki city

The problem of vacant houses in Nagasu district, Amagasaki city

兵庫県尼崎市の猪名川公園におけるゴモクムシダマシ( コウチュウ目，ゴミ ムシダマシ科) の採集記録と飼育方法に関する若干の考察

兵庫県尼崎市の猪名川公園におけるゴモクムシダマシ( コウチュウ目，ゴミ ムシダマシ科) の採集記録と飼育方法に関する若干の考察