Transport barriers and its health implications in Asunción

Publication date: September 2019Source: Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 14Author(s): Maria Cecilia Rojas López, Dante Fernando Recalde Melo, Yiik Diew WongAbstractIntroductionAsunción is the capital of Paraguay, a landlock country in South America. The level of urbanisation in the city is increasing at a fast rate without proper planning. Local transport problem-symptoms can be related to health issues in the city, yet there are no official studies. This is a pioneering work describing transport-and-health-links in Asunción city.ScopeTransport-and-health-links in Asunción in relation to the international context are investigated. Local transport problem-symptoms affecting health are identified and discussed based on impact on physical activity, space usage, air pollution, and noise pollution. A comprehensive framework for future empirical research and planning is proposed, and policies and recommendations are given.FindingsAsunción city and peripheral areas have high rates of private vehicle usage – triggered by fast-growing urban sprawl and city population – as well as low levels of public transport service. Virtually no collaboration between transport and health authorities/planners has been identified. Infrastructure has greatly favoured usage of private vehicles, and the rate of obesity is increasing in the country and over 30% of the population have very high levels of physical inactivity. Barriers that hold back progress in transport (and could positively...
Source: Journal of Transport and Health - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research