Impact of public transport disruption on access to healthcare facility and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative case study in Metro Manila, Philippines. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sunio, Varsolo; Carlo Ugay, Jedd; Li, Chen-Wei; Joy Liwanag, Harvy; Santos, Jerico
• Is Part Of: Case studies on transport policy. Volume 11(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Public transport disruption -- Accessibility -- Equity -- Well-being; Transportation and state -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Planning -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Research -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cstp.2023.100948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-624X

Abstract

Highlights: Impact of a prolonged public transport disruption on access and well-being. Healthcare professionals and patients experience disparities in access and well-being. Disparity in impact due to varying levels of resistance, resilience and vulnerability. Emotional, life satisfaction and needs-fulfillment dimensions of well-being. Two-step model on the pathways from disruption to impact on access and well-being. Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many governments to halt public transport operations. A consequence of such disruption is the reduction in access to critical facilities by individuals who rely on public transport for their daily mobility. We investigate the impact disparities caused by the restriction of public transportation on the access of healthcare workers and patients to healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro Manila is an appropriate case study site because the duration of suspension of public transport in the mega-city is one of the longest in the world. The prolonged duration of the lockdown could have devastating impacts on the well-being of individuals who are reliant on public transport to access essential services. Guided by the Yin-Eisenhardt approach to qualitative research, we examined the data from 55 individuals using within-case and cross-case analyses iteratively for the purpose of building a model on the impact of change in access due to public transport disruption on well-being. We mobilized constructs and concepts known in the literature, such as well-being, access, disruption, resistance, resilience, and vulnerability, in developing our two-step conceptual model. Given the profound impact of the prolonged and system-wide suspension of public transport on the well-being of individuals, it is necessary to provide sufficient public transport and active transport infrastructure and services that can cover their mobility needs. The two-step conceptual model from this study can provide guidance on specific policy interventions.