Our research team explored the role of active commuting to school, including walking or cycling, among adolescents in Yaoundé, a rapidly urbanising city in the lower-middle country of Cameroon. Given the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and declining physical activity levels among youth, understanding the factors that shape active transport choices is crucial for promoting healthier urban environments.
Key Findings
Our study highlights the interplay between individual, socioeconomic, and environmental factors in determining whether adolescents actively commute to school.
- Socioeconomic Status (SES) and Active Transport
Adolescents attending schools in higher-socioeconomic areas were significantly less likely to actively commute compared to those in lower-socioeconomic areas, regardless of their household SES. It is known that wealthier neighbourhoods usually provide greater access to motorised transport, reducing reliance on walking or cycling, and that they may have greater access to motorised transport such as vehicle ownership and sufficient funds to regularly purchase a transport option.
- Time Spent in Active Commuting
Among students who actively commuted, those from low socioeconomic status spent more time walking or cycling to school, regardless if they were attending schools in low or high Socioeconomic areas. Above the vehicle ownership and funding issue raised before, the built environment characteristics of low income neighbourhoods may be less conducive to motorised transportation and thus may not be easily accessible by means other than walking and thus, adolescents may be more reliant on active forms of transportation for at least part of their journey.
- Weight Status and Commuting Patterns
Overweight or obese adolescents had lower odds of active commuting compared to their peers with a normal BMI. This aligns with global findings that sedentary behaviour and weight status can influence physical activity choices, and this low activity pattern could be part of clustering of unhealthy behaviours.
Implications for Urban Health Policy
The study underscores the need for urban policies that promote and sustain active commuting among adolescents. While active transport contributes to daily physical activity, barriers such as poor infrastructure, road safety concerns, and socioeconomic disparities must be addressed.
Investing in safe pedestrian infrastructure, school zoning policies, and community-based initiatives can help sustain active commuting habits. These efforts are critical in LMICs, where access to recreational physical activity is often limited.
As cities like Yaoundé continue to grow, ensuring that adolescents have safe and accessible routes to school can play a key role in promoting healthier, more active lifestyles is a crucial step toward reducing the burden of NCDs in urban Africa.
Read the full study here.