著者

Yuko Kachi Tsuguhiko Kato Ichiro Kawachi

出版者

Japan Epidemiological Association

雑誌

Journal of Epidemiology (ISSN:09175040)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.JE20180216, (Released:2019-03-23)

参考文献数

27

被引用文献数

7

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Background: Accumulating evidence has shown that high-quality early childhood education and care may be an effective way of promoting children’s optimal health and development, especially for the most disadvantaged. However, socially disadvantaged families are less likely to enroll children in center-based childcare. In this study, we explored characteristics associated with use of center-based childcare among Japanese families.Methods: We used data from two Japanese birth cohorts in 2001 (n=17,019) and 2010 (n=24,333). Enrollment in center-based childcare was assessed at the ages of three and four years in the 2001 cohort and at the age of three in the 2010 cohort. Logistic regression analyses were conducted.Results: Children in the lowest quintile of household income were 1.54 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.98) times more likely to not receive center-based childcare than those in the highest-income quartile at the age of four in the 2001 cohort. Other socio-economic disadvantage (mother’s low education, non-Japanese parent, and higher number of siblings) and child’s health and developmental problems (preterm birth, congenital diseases, and developmental delay) were also associated with the non-use of center-based childcare at the age of three in the 2001 and 2010 cohorts.Conclusions: An inverse care law operates in the use of early childhood education, i.e. children with the least need enjoy the highest access. Children with socio-economic, health, and developmental disadvantages are at a greater risk of not receiving early childhood education and care. Social policies to promote equal access to early childhood education are needed to reduce future socio-economic inequalities.

著者

Bibha Dhungel Tsuguhiko Kato Yuko Kachi Manami Ochi Stuart Gilmour Kenji Takehara

出版者

Japan Epidemiological Association

雑誌

Journal of Epidemiology (ISSN:09175040)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.33, no.6, pp.294-302, 2023-06-05 (Released:2023-06-05)

参考文献数

59

被引用文献数

4

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Background: In Japan, ten percent of single-parent households are led by fathers. Taking care of children as a single father is very stressful and could put a strain on their health. It is very important to prevent and identify psychological distress among fathers for both their own health and to avoid negative impacts on children. This study aims to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress among single fathers and understand how it is different from partnered fathers.Methods: We used data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2016. Psychological distress, assessed using the K6 scale, was analyzed among 868 single and 43,880 partnered fathers. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for psychological distress, such as employment type, sleep hours, and smoking and drinking habits.Results: Single fathers had a higher proportion (8.5%) of psychological distress compared to partnered fathers (5.0%). A larger percentage of single fathers had a lower educational level and were more likely to be non-regular workers, self-employed, or unemployed than partnered fathers. Among single fathers, the crude and adjusted odds ratio for employment type and sleep hours were significantly associated with psychological distress.Conclusion: As single parents who are self-employed or directors are likely to have significantly reduced psychological distress than those with regular jobs, measures are needed to improve the work-family balance for non-self-employed fathers. There is a need to provide greater financial assistance and other social welfare support to single parents to ensure their and their children’s good health.

著者

Manami Ochi Aya Isumi Tsuguhiko Kato Satomi Doi Takeo Fujiwara

出版者

Japan Epidemiological Association

雑誌

Journal of Epidemiology (ISSN:09175040)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.JE20190177, (Released:2020-03-21)

参考文献数

39

被引用文献数

29

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Background: The Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study has been conducted since 2015 to clarify the associations between socioeconomic factors and child health, as well as to accumulate data for political evaluation of the child-poverty agenda. This paper describes the purpose and research design of the A-CHILD study and the baseline profiles of participants, together with the future framework for implementing this cohort study.Methods: We have conducted two types of continuous survey: a complete-sample survey started in 2015 as a first wave study to target first-grade children in all public elementary schools in Adachi City, Tokyo, and a biennial fixed grade observation survey started in 2016 in selected elementary and junior high schools. Questionnaires were answered by caregivers of all targeted children and also by the children themselves for those in the fourth grade and higher. The data of A-CHILD also combined information obtained from school health checkups of all school-grade children, as well as the results from blood test and measurement of blood pressure of eight-grade children since 2016.Results: The valid responses in the first wave were 4,291 (80.1%). The number of households in “living difficulties”, such as low household income or material deprivation, stood at 1,047 (24.5%).Conclusions: The A-CHILD study will contribute to the clarification of the impact of poverty on children’s health disparities and paves the way to managing this issue in the community.