Urban mobility and health: a multicentric survey conducted in some Italian cities

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Abstract

Introduction. Urban and transport planning, environmental exposures, physical activity and human health are strictly linked. The aim of this study was to analyze the determinants of sustainable and active mobility in 4 Italian provinces.
Materials and methods. An online multiple-choice survey was administered via Google Form between October 2019 and February 2020.
Result: 605 people answered the questionnaire, reporting their mobility practices. The home location did not seem to influence mobility behaviours, with the exception of the greater use of public transport for those who did not live in the province capital. Working or studying in central areas was associated with less use of the car, while not working or

studying in the province capital was associated with less use of the motorbike. Women use cars more, and motorcycles/bicycles less. Age and educational level did not seem to influence mobility practices, while being a student compared to a worker was related to greater use of public transport and tendency to walk to the work/study place as well asnto lesser car use.
Discussion. It is essential that all cities adopt solutions to encourage healthy mobility. The positive relationship between BMI and car use, between good food score and bike use and between frequent light physical activity and healthy mobility indicators confirmed that risk factors are often interconnected and that improving even one single habit could have a positive effect on the others as well.
Conclusion. An urgent paradigm shift is needed to transform urban areas from agglomerations oriented on motorized transport to ones that rely on active and sustainable mobility, in order to turn cities into places generating wellness and health.

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Authors

Orazio Valerio Giannico - Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Taranto, Taranto, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5375-8841

Simona Baldacci - Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Taranto, Taranto, Italy

Aurora Angelozzi - Department for Organizational Development, Local Health Unit Roma 1, Rome, Italy

Susanna Caminada - Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Giovanni Noberasco - Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

Aurora Oradini - School of Public Health - University of Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy

Stefano Pizzo - Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Sara Schenone - Hospital Managment, Local Health Agency n° 4, Genova, Italy

Francesco Scarpitta - Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

How to Cite
Giannico, O. V., Baldacci, S., Angelozzi, A., Caminada, S., Noberasco, G., Oradini, A., … Scarpitta, F. (2022). Urban mobility and health: a multicentric survey conducted in some Italian cities. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 58(4), 277–284. Retrieved from https://annali.iss.it/index.php/anna/article/view/1490
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