Abstract
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2274438 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Global Public Health |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Oct 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Funding
The inability of older adults to afford different transport modes, their poor physical health, gender (read women) and living on the periphery of the city increased inequalities in accessing transport modes. Those on a lower income usually reside in the urban periphery, as the rent/lease is affordable. However, this affected their access to transport to travel to essential services such as healthcare. A 66-year-old participant, Ratna, living with her husband (unwell) and son (not working), resides in the urban periphery due to affordable house rent and closeness to the workplace so that she can walk to work. She works as an English teacher at the nearby college where she is paid INR 150 (approximately US$ 2)/ hour. At present, she has no income because the college is closed and is financially supported by her well-wishers for basic needs. She suffers from diabetes mellitus and also underwent surgery for hernia during the COVID-19 pandemic. She must go to the city to access healthcare services for herself and her husband who is also suffering from a chronic illness. She faces difficulty in accessing buses near her house. She cannot take the auto everywhere because she has to save some money to buy medicines. She mostly walks to the bus stop near her house and if the bus is not available, sometimes takes an auto to the next bus stop near the main junction and takes the bus. Since her husband cannot travel, she must visit his previous workplace to claim partial medical insurance to pay off his medical bills. This process is very exhausting due to the lack of direct public transport and adds to the financial burden for her at this age when she herself has health issues.
Funders | Funder number |
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Universiteit Utrecht | |
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek | W 07.30318.003 |
Keywords
- Access to healthcare
- mobility
- older adults
- transportation