Qualitative methods for investigating transport and mobility issues among commonly socially excluded populations

Abstract

Qualitative research on transport and mobilities in development contexts is relatively sparse. Following a preliminary discussion of qualitative approaches developed by the first author when researching transport-related issues with commonly excluded populations (women, children, people resident away from the paved road, older people) in rural sub-Saharan Africa, a detailed case study is presented of the methodology employed in an investigation into the transport and mobility problems experienced by older people. This study, which focuses on older people’s physical access to health and other services in rural Tanzania, was conducted in collaboration with older people from the Kibaha District of Pwani region. The study is one of the first to explore older people's mobility and associated access to services in Africa and the first to use a co-investigation approach in this context