The Impact of Transport on Population Health and Health Equity for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Prospective Burden of Disease Study

Edward Randal, Caroline Shaw, Melissa McLeod, Michael Keall, Alistair Woodward and Anja Mizdrak
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Edward Randal: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Caroline Shaw: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Melissa McLeod: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Michael Keall: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
Alistair Woodward: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Anja Mizdrak: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Background: The land transport system influences health via a range of pathways. This study aimed to quantify the amount and distribution of health loss caused by the current land transport system in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) through the pathways of road injury, air pollution and physical inactivity. Methods: We used an existing multi-state life table model to estimate the long-term health impacts (in health-adjusted life years (HALYs)) and changes in health system costs of removing road injury and transport related air pollution and increasing physical activity to recommended levels through active transport. Health equity implications were estimated using relative changes in HALYs and life expectancy for Māori and non-Māori. Results: If the NZ resident population alive in 2011 was exposed to no further air pollution from transport, had no road traffic injuries and achieved at least the recommended weekly amount of physical activity through walking and cycling from 2011 onwards, 1.28 (95% UI: 1.11–1.5) million HALYs would be gained and $7.7 (95% UI: 10.2 to 5.6) billion (2011 NZ Dollars) would be saved from the health system over the lifetime of this cohort. Māori would likely gain more healthy years per capita than non-Māori, which would translate to small but important reductions (2–3%) in the present gaps in life expectancy. Conclusion: The current transport system in NZ, like many other car-dominated transport systems, has substantial negative impacts on health, at a similar level to the effects of tobacco and obesity. Transport contributes to health inequity, as Māori bear greater shares of the negative health impacts. Creating a healthier transport system would bring substantial benefits for health, society and the economy.

Keywords: transport; health; inequities; M?ori; burden of disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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