Transportation Matters: A Health Impact Assessment in Rural New Mexico
Transportation Matters: A Health Impact Assessment in Rural New Mexico
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DOI：
10.3390/ijerph14060629
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发表时间：
2017-06-01
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Korc, Marcelo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Del Rio, Michelle;Hargrove, William L.;Korc, Marcelo
这项健康影响评估(HIA)决定将公共交通服务扩大到美国/墨西哥边境的新墨西哥州多纳阿纳县南部的农村低收入社区。HIA侧重于获得卫生保健服务、教育和经济发展机会的影响。定性和定量数据来自对社区成员的调查、主要信息者访谈、与社区卫生工作者的焦点小组以及在运输系统最初引入期间的乘客调查。调查结果显示，很高比例的受访者将使用公共汽车系统来获得以下服务：(1)84%用于医疗服务；(2)83%用于正规和非正式教育机会；(3)81%用于经济机会。访谈和焦点小组的结果支持获得服务的好处，但许多人对在农村地区提供公共汽车服务的高昂费用表示关切。我们的结论是，实施公交系统将通过改善获得以下方面对居民的健康产生重大影响：(1)卫生服务和新鲜食品，特别是老年人；(2)教育机会，如社区学院、大学和成人学习，特别是年轻人；(3)经济机会，特别是就业、职业培训和消费品和服务。我们强调了与农村地区的公共交通相关的挑战，这些地区有：(1)出行距离长；(2)难以安排时间满足所有需求；(3)公共汽车站的道路和步行条件很差。这一结果适用于低收入和相对脱节的农村地区，在这些地区，获得卫生、教育和经济机会的机会有限。
This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) informed the decision of expanding public transportation services to rural, low income communities of southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico on the U.S./Mexico border. The HIA focused on impacts of access to health care services, education, and economic development opportunities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from surveys of community members, key informant interviews, a focus group with community health workers, and passenger surveys during an initial introduction of the transit system. Results from the survey showed that a high percentage of respondents would use the bus system to access the following: (1) 84% for health services; (2) 83% for formal and informal education opportunities; and (3) 81% for economic opportunities. Results from interviews and the focus group supported the benefits of access to services but many were concerned with the high costs of providing bus service in a rural area. We conclude that implementing the bus system would have major impacts on resident's health through improved access to: (1) health services, and fresh foods, especially for older adults; (2) education opportunities, such as community colleges, universities, and adult learning, especially for young adults; and (3) economic opportunities, especially jobs, job training, and consumer goods and services. We highlight the challenges associated with public transportation in rural areas where there are: (1) long distances to travel; (2) difficulties in scheduling to meet all needs; and (3) poor road and walking conditions for bus stops. The results are applicable to low income and fairly disconnected rural areas, where access to health, education, and economic opportunities are limited.