RAPID HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORT POLICIES IN MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

Introduction: Urban planning and related policies can contribute to improvement in health. Recent epidemiological and health impact assessment (HIA) studies suggest that a change from passive (car) to active transportation... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: Urban planning and related policies can contribute to improvement in health. Recent epidemiological and health impact assessment (HIA) studies suggest that a change from passive (car) to active transportation (cycling, walking) and public transport in daily life could improve health. Although a number of HIA studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, such studies are still largely lacking in low and middle-income countries.

Methods: We conducted a Rapid HIA in Maputo (Mozambique). We collected information to conduct HIA study through interviews with different stakeholders. Part of the information was also obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, Urban Mobility Plan (UMP), and international data bases. We also conducted field work to identify the built environment and mobility characteristics in the respective cities by using the different modes of transports in several places of the city.

Results:The UMP in Maputo doesn't consider walking or cycling as a key modes of transport. Develop policies to increase active and public transport will help to reduce the air pollution, traffic accidents, and noise in the city and could increase the physical activity. Urban transport policies should also include a social perspective, increasing equity, social support, cohesion and participation. Develop policies based on a better governance, a multi-sectoral, metropolitan and multilevel approach are necessary in Maputo, for the success implementation of urban transport policies.

Conclusion: Urban transport policies focused on active and public transport are missing in Maputo. The Rapid HIA can be used in developing countries as a useful tool to improve decision making process in urban and transport policies. The study also highlights the need to routinely collect basic data in developing countries, not only to conduct HIA studies but also as a tool to take the appropriate political decisions in urban and transport planning and health and social development.