Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract

Spatial Distribution and Geographic Accessibility to Primary Healthcare Facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria

Akinwale Emmanuel Oluwayinka*

One important indicator of development has been the accessibility of healthcare services. The concept of geographic accessibility can be used to evaluate disparities in health care access among various groups or geographic areas. Using the 33 Local Government Areas as the spatial unit of analysis, this study aims to assess the geographic accessibility and distribution of basic healthcare services in Oyo State.

The Oyo State Ministry of Health provided information on the primary healthcare facilities in the research area. The spatial distribution pattern of primary healthcare institutions in the study area was mapped using ArcGIS 10.8. A 5 km geographic accessibility catchment zone was also established in order to identify the locations that are able to reach primary healthcare providers within the WHO’s recommended distance.

The results show that although primary health care facilities are dispersed throughout the research region, in certain locations they are more dispersed due to high levels of urbanization. Additionally, the research area’s degree of geographic accessibility to primary healthcare facilities was assessed using the WHO’s recommended 5 km distance. The findings indicate that 66.69% of LGAs have a population within the WHO-recommended 5 km radius, whereas 33.28% of LGAs have a population outside of this range. Additionally, the mean and minimum distance between the population and primary health care facilities was ascertained. The results indicate that 42% of people have a minimum distance to primary health care facilities of more than 5 km, and 93% of people have a mean distance of more than 5 km.

Published Date: 2023-12-18; Received Date: 2023-11-16