Population Size Of Municipalities Research Articles

Kommunalreformens betydning for den kommunale valgdeltagelse

What is the impact of the Danish municipal reform on turnout at the municipal elections? In the reform 275 municipalities merged into only 98, and there was thus widespread concern that turnout would be depressed as the average municipal population size increased. This concern seemed even more important after turnout dropped about 4 percentage points in the second election following the reform. We find a strong partial correlation between municipal population size and turnout. An individual level regression indicates that after the reform, the amalgamating municipalities had a lower turnout than their non-amalgamating peers. A dynamic regression fails to show any impact of the reform from 1997 to 2009. Nevertheless, an intriguing pattern is found, as the effect of the amalgamation municipalities actually seems to have raised their turnout in the first election following the reform, while it was depressed in the subsequent election. Finally, we argue that should the municipal reform might have had some impact, it is not likely the sole explanation for the dramatic decline in turnout from 2005 to 2009.

Fertility history and cause-specific mortality: A register-based analysis of complete cohorts of Norwegian women and men

The relationship between women's reproductive histories and later all-cause mortality has been investigated in several studies, with mixed results. Some studies have also considered cause-specific mortality and some have included men, but none has done both. We analyse associations between parity and age of first birth for women and men across 11 cause-of-death groupings using Norwegian register data for complete cohorts born 1935-1968 whose mortality was observed 1980-2003 (i.e. at ages 45-68). Age, period, educational level, marital status, region of residence and population size of municipality were included as co-variates. In total, there were 63,000 deaths. Results showed that relative to parents of two children, childless men and women and those with one child had higher mortality risks for nearly all cause of death groupings. High parity (4+ children) was associated with raised male mortality from accidents and violence and higher mortality from cancer of the cervix among women. For other cause and gender groupings there was either little difference between those with two children and those of higher parities or an overall negative association between parity and mortality. Among men with the lowest level of education, however, high parity was positively associated with mortality from circulatory diseases. For all causes except female breast cancer, there was an inverse association between age at first birth and mortality risk. Similarities observed across cause groups and for women and men suggest that much of the fertility-mortality relationship is a result of selection or effects of reproductive behaviour on lifestyle. The latter may include both beneficial effects and harmful stress responses. However, physiological mechanisms are most probably important for some causes of death for women. Research on associations between parenting histories, health related behaviours, social support exchanges and reported or measured stress is needed to clarify mechanisms underlying the associations reported here.

Effect of degree of urbanisation on age and sex-specific asthma prevalence in Swedish preschool children

BackgroundThere are few studies on age and sex-specific asthma prevalence in the age range 1–6 years. The purpose of this report was to estimate age and sex specific asthma prevalence in preschool children and to analyse the influence of possible demographic and geographic determinants.MethodsAll 70 allergen avoidance day-care centres and 140 matched ordinary day-care centres across Sweden were sampled. The parents of all 8,757 children attending these day-care centres received the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire, supplemented with questions on medical treatment, physician assessed asthma diagnosis, and other asthma related questions. The response rate was 68%.ResultsThe age specific asthma prevalence, adjusted for the underlying municipality population size, was among boys 9.7% at age 1, 11.1% at age 2, 11.4 at age 3, 10.5 at age 4, 8.7 at age 5, and 6.4 at age 6. The corresponding proportions among girls were 8.9%, 9.9%, 9.8%, 8.8%, 7.0%, and 5.0%, on average 9.6% for boys and 8.2% for girls, altogether 8.9%. In addition to age and sex the prevalence increased by municipality population density, a proxy for degree of urbanisation. Moreover, there was a remaining weak geographical gradient with increasing prevalence towards the north and the west.ConclusionThe age-specific asthma prevalence was curvilinear with a peak around age 3 and somewhat higher for boys than for girls. The asthma prevalence increased in a slowly accelerating pace by municipality population density as a proxy for degree of urbanisation.

Baseline Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Stroke Mortality by Municipality Population Size in a 19-year Follow-up Study-NIPPON DATA80

The urban-rural difference in cardiovascular risk factors and stroke mortality throughout Japan was examined in a cohort by using hierarchical data structure. The subjects were 9,309 men and women aged ≥ 30 years who were residents of 294 areas in 211 municipalities of Japan in 1980; they were followed up until 1999. The population sizes of the municipalities in which the aforementioned areas were located were used to distinguish between urban and rural areas. We applied multilevel modeling to take into account the hierarchical data structure of individuals (subjects) (level 1) nested within areas (level 2). Statistically significant differences were observed in the case of medium (30,000-300,000) and small (<30,000) municipality populations compared with large (≥300,000) municipality populations with regard to the following parameters: body mass index in men, serum total cholesterol in both men and women, and daily alcohol drinking in women. The values or frequencies of these cardiovascular risk factors were significantly higher in large populations. Meanwhile, age-adjusted odds ratios for stroke mortality in the areas in the medium and small municipalities compared with those in the areas in the large municipalities were 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-2.13) and 1.40 (95% CI 0.87-2.24) in men, and 1.32 (95% CI 0.79-2.20) and 1.62 (95% CI 0.99-2.65) in women, respectively. The results of multivariate analyses adjusted for age, body mass index, total cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, and daily alcohol consumption did not change materially. In conclusion, stroke mortality tended to be higher in rural areas than in urban areas in Japan, especially among women.

Mountain Villages in the 21st Century in Japan

In Japan, mountain villages experienced serious losses of population in the period of rapid economic growth. Therefore, the central government took policies in line with depressions in mountain villages, investing a large amount of financial funds to improve backward conditions. Local economies were dramatically reconstructed by newly located manufacturing and construction industries. However, the economic system for sustaining mountain communities faced increasing difficulties after the 1990's. On the other hand, the Great Merger of the Heisei Era is under way, involving small municipalities in mountainous areas.In the 1990's, population losses continued in most mountain municipalities, although some municipalities around the three major metropolitan areas show a slight increase or tendency to stagnate. The rapid aging of the population is crucial, especially in the western part of Japan. As for the economic recession, the manufacturing labor market is shrinking sharply due to the rapid shift of factories to developing countries represented by China. The construction industry maintains employment because of public investment to achieve a national economic recovery in the early 1990's. The mountain village economy has been transformed by economic globalization and structural reforms by the Japanese government. The author proposes an alternative economic sector named the integrated cultural service industry composed of agriculture, forestry, tourism, and local culture. The consolidation of municipalities in mountainous areas is examined on the basis of the history of mergers and the present consolidation plan. Most mountain municipalities will be obliged to merge, because the population size of mountain municipalities is below 10000, which is the critical level for survival without merging. Such consolidation involves the risk of hiding the problems of mountain village communities from society. The author points out the future prospects of mountainous areas for overcoming the peripheral economic conditions and conserving natural eco-systems. Such a future direction emphasizes the significance of a global point of view, which leads to a reevaluation of mountainous areas in the 21st century.

Analyses of factors influencing participation in the cervical cancer screening programme in the community in Japan.

The association between the participation rates of cervical cancer screening programme and implementation methods, concerning data management, participant convenience, promoting participation, and payment, were analyzed. The data regarding the implementation methods were obtained in a nation-wide questionnaire survey. The relationship between the participation rates and implementation methods were assessed using the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analyses. In small municipalities, with a population < 10,000 items concerning data management, enlisting the assistance of community organizations, fee exemption, and early morning screening were positively associated with the participation. In middle-sized municipalities, with the population 10,000-49,999, early morning screening, community organizations, items concerning data management, and sending out letters were positively associated with participation. Saturday/Sunday screening, community organizations, letters, and postcards were positively associated with the participation of the older group (> or = 50 years) in large municipalities with population of > 50,000. These results indicate that enlisting the assistance of community organizations and establishing a well-organized data management system are likely to improve participation regardless of municipality size. Other implementation methods must be selected taking into account factors such as municipality population size, as well as the age distribution and characteristics of the target population.

Gastric cancer screening programme in Japan: how to improve its implementation in the community.

The aim was to investigate which factors in the operating procedure of the gastric cancer screening programme carried out by local Japanese municipalities affect the participation rate. This was a cross-sectional study. Data were mainly obtained by questionnaire completed by the person in charge of health in each municipal council. Information was sought on screening motivation, screening programme organisation, payment for the examination, the scheduling and filing system, and community manpower. Data on the participation levels were obtained from the health data service system published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1991. All of Japan's 3268 local municipalities were sent the questionnaire. Altogether 2795 municipalities responded (85.5% response rate). The local municipality was regarded as the study unit. The municipalities were classified into two groups--small municipalities, those with < 10,000 population aged 40 years and over, and large municipalities, those with > 10,000 population aged 40 years and over. The participation rate in the screening programme varied according to the municipality population size and age. Small municipalities had higher participation rates. The rate in people aged 60-69 years was highest and that in those aged 70+ years was lowest. The participation rate was positively associated with factors related to the operating procedure before (for example, giving information about screening), during (for example, assisting the screening staff), and after (setting up the relevant filing systems) the gastric examination. The results suggest that personal motivation, manpower in local residents' organisations, scheduling time for convenience, and a basic filing system for individual data, especially for people who have not participated in the programme for a few years, are important in increasing participation.

A Study on Efficient System of the Gastric Cancer Screening in the Community in JapanThe Relationship between the Operating Style of the Screening Program and the Population Size of Municipalities

In order to learn the relationship between the population size of municipalities and conduct-ing methods of gastric cancer screening programs according to the Health and Medical Service for the Aged Act of 1982 in Japan, the programs of 2, 795 municipalities having replied a questionnaire survey were analyzed. Several aspects of conducting the programs, such as whether to conduct individual screenings, how to conduct outside office hour screening, how to provide information about screening schedules, keeping and controlling systems of the results, and participation rates, depended on the population size. The difference according to the population size seemed due to differences of life style and social environment between rural and urban, and population size itself. Moreover, the population size should be considered as a confounding factor in analyzing the relationship between the gastric cancer screening program system and the participation rate. J Epidemiol, 1993; 3 : 11-18.

Viral hepatitis in Tasmania

A planar graph of the island has been constructed in which nodes are weighted for total municipal population size and links represent road access between the nodes. The graph is repeated for 163 weekly periods and the notified viral hepatitis cases are shaded upon each. Even utilizing incomplete notifications, the system of spread breaks down into 3 discrete sub-systems, each centered upon a port of potential disease entry. Wide differences of municipal hepatitis incidence rates are shown, and disease diffusion through space exhibits a strong tendency to follow analogous patterns repetitively through time. In a second, more localized study, patient movement records were collected to identify some high risks within the social environment of the Hobart metropolitan area. Lack of public awareness of disease hazards was highlighted.