Indigenous ethnicity as a social determinant of exposure to riskier modes of transport: A survey study in Taiwan

In Taiwan, indigenous persons are three times as likely to die of transport-attributed causes as non-indigenous Taiwanese. One contributing factor may be exposure to powered-two wheelers (PTW). Despite its high fatality rate relative to cars, PTW remain an economical and popular mode of transport used disproportionately by people of lower education and income throughout Asia. This study tests (1) indigenous ethnicity as a predictor of PTW usage, and (2) educational attainment and personal income as mediators between indigenous ethnicity and PTW usage. Based on data from the Taiwan Social Change Survey (n=2209), results indicated that most indigenous respondents reported PTW as their primary mode of transport (73%), and that odds of PTW usage among indigenous persons were 2.80 times higher than non-indigenous Taiwanese. The association between indigenous ethnicity and PTW usage was significantly mediated by educational attainment. Lower educational attainment and personal income were correlated with PTW usage. Indigenous Taiwanese appear to have greater exposure to PTW, and by extension, greater risk for transport-attributed injury or death. Ethnic differences in decisions pertaining to mode of transport are complex and unlikely the simple function of education or personal income. Community-led initiatives are needed to understand and address transport-attributed mortality among indigenous populations dependent on PTW.