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Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques

Received: 4 August 2024     Accepted: 24 August 2024     Published: 6 September 2024
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Abstract

Background: Access to healthcare is crucial for health equity and outcomes, especially in resource-limited rural areas. Despite expansion efforts, access disparities persist, impacting rural well-being. Assessing spatial accessibility to primary and secondary healthcare is essential for identifying underserved areas and guiding effective resource allocation and intervention strategies. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the geographic access to healthcare services in a rural district of Ghana using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques. Methods: Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3.28.6, spatial data including health facility locations, settlements, road networks, and population data were analysed. Buffer and distance to the nearest hub analyses were conducted to assess healthcare accessibility to all ten (10) healthcare facilities in the district. Travel time analysis was performed using specified travel speeds for various modes of transportation. Chi-square tests were employed to evaluate the associations between settlement characteristics and access to primary and secondary healthcare services. Results: Approximately 40% of the health facilities were located in Akumadan, the district capital. Primary healthcare accessibility within a 3km radius covered 35% of settlements and 59% of the population, while secondary healthcare, within a 5km radius, was accessible to only 11.3% of settlements and 27.2% of the population. The mean distance to health centres was 4.35±2.72 km and to hospitals was 10.35±5.77 km. Mean walking times were 87±54.6 minutes to health centres and 209.2±117.0 minutes to hospitals. By motorized transport, travel times were up to 24 minutes to health centres and 55 minutes to hospitals; by bicycle, up to 37 minutes to health centres and 190 minutes to hospitals. Chi-Square Tests revealed significant associations between settlement type and both primary (χ²(1, N=80) = 30.77, p <.001) and secondary (χ²(1, N=80) = 15.93, p <.001) healthcare access, as well as between population level and healthcare access. Proximity to health facilities (primary χ²(1, N=80) = 21.26, p <.001; secondary χ²(1, N=80) = 5.48, p =.019) and transportation accessibility (primary χ²(1, N=80) = 9.13, p =.003; secondary χ²(1, N=80) = 12.13, p <.001) were significantly associated with healthcare access. Conclusion: This study unveils substantial disparities in healthcare accessibility, characterized by uneven distribution of facilities and remote distances. Challenges include limited infrastructure and geographic isolation. Addressing these requires enhanced infrastructure, transport networks, expanding outreach services, and equitable policy reforms to promote health equity.

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 12, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11
Page(s) 110-123
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Healthcare Disparities, Primary Healthcare, Secondary Healthcare, Healthcare Access, Spatial Analysis, Outreach Services

References
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    Nsiah, R. B., Larbi-Debrah, P., Avagu, R., Yeboah, A. K., Anum-Doku, S., et al. (2024). Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques. American Journal of Health Research, 12(5), 110-123. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11

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    Nsiah, R. B.; Larbi-Debrah, P.; Avagu, R.; Yeboah, A. K.; Anum-Doku, S., et al. Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques. Am. J. Health Res. 2024, 12(5), 110-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11

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    AMA Style

    Nsiah RB, Larbi-Debrah P, Avagu R, Yeboah AK, Anum-Doku S, et al. Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques. Am J Health Res. 2024;12(5):110-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11,
      author = {Richmond Bediako Nsiah and Patrick Larbi-Debrah and Richard Avagu and Akua Kumi Yeboah and Solomon Anum-Doku and Saida Abdul-Rahman Zakaria and Frank Prempeh and Phenihas Kwadwo Opoku and Amos Andoono and Gilbert Elara Dagoe and Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami and Dominic Nyarko and Saviour Kofi Katamani and Mansurat Abdul Ganiyu and Wisdom Kwami Takramah},
      title = {Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {12},
      number = {5},
      pages = {110-123},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20241205.11},
      abstract = {Background: Access to healthcare is crucial for health equity and outcomes, especially in resource-limited rural areas. Despite expansion efforts, access disparities persist, impacting rural well-being. Assessing spatial accessibility to primary and secondary healthcare is essential for identifying underserved areas and guiding effective resource allocation and intervention strategies. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the geographic access to healthcare services in a rural district of Ghana using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques. Methods: Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3.28.6, spatial data including health facility locations, settlements, road networks, and population data were analysed. Buffer and distance to the nearest hub analyses were conducted to assess healthcare accessibility to all ten (10) healthcare facilities in the district. Travel time analysis was performed using specified travel speeds for various modes of transportation. Chi-square tests were employed to evaluate the associations between settlement characteristics and access to primary and secondary healthcare services. Results: Approximately 40% of the health facilities were located in Akumadan, the district capital. Primary healthcare accessibility within a 3km radius covered 35% of settlements and 59% of the population, while secondary healthcare, within a 5km radius, was accessible to only 11.3% of settlements and 27.2% of the population. The mean distance to health centres was 4.35±2.72 km and to hospitals was 10.35±5.77 km. Mean walking times were 87±54.6 minutes to health centres and 209.2±117.0 minutes to hospitals. By motorized transport, travel times were up to 24 minutes to health centres and 55 minutes to hospitals; by bicycle, up to 37 minutes to health centres and 190 minutes to hospitals. Chi-Square Tests revealed significant associations between settlement type and both primary (χ²(1, N=80) = 30.77, p Conclusion: This study unveils substantial disparities in healthcare accessibility, characterized by uneven distribution of facilities and remote distances. Challenges include limited infrastructure and geographic isolation. Addressing these requires enhanced infrastructure, transport networks, expanding outreach services, and equitable policy reforms to promote health equity.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Mapping Health Disparities: Spatial Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in a Rural District of Ghana Using Geographic Information Systems Techniques
    
    AU  - Richmond Bediako Nsiah
    AU  - Patrick Larbi-Debrah
    AU  - Richard Avagu
    AU  - Akua Kumi Yeboah
    AU  - Solomon Anum-Doku
    AU  - Saida Abdul-Rahman Zakaria
    AU  - Frank Prempeh
    AU  - Phenihas Kwadwo Opoku
    AU  - Amos Andoono
    AU  - Gilbert Elara Dagoe
    AU  - Jonathan Mawutor Gmanyami
    AU  - Dominic Nyarko
    AU  - Saviour Kofi Katamani
    AU  - Mansurat Abdul Ganiyu
    AU  - Wisdom Kwami Takramah
    Y1  - 2024/09/06
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11
    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
    SP  - 110
    EP  - 123
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20241205.11
    AB  - Background: Access to healthcare is crucial for health equity and outcomes, especially in resource-limited rural areas. Despite expansion efforts, access disparities persist, impacting rural well-being. Assessing spatial accessibility to primary and secondary healthcare is essential for identifying underserved areas and guiding effective resource allocation and intervention strategies. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the geographic access to healthcare services in a rural district of Ghana using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques. Methods: Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3.28.6, spatial data including health facility locations, settlements, road networks, and population data were analysed. Buffer and distance to the nearest hub analyses were conducted to assess healthcare accessibility to all ten (10) healthcare facilities in the district. Travel time analysis was performed using specified travel speeds for various modes of transportation. Chi-square tests were employed to evaluate the associations between settlement characteristics and access to primary and secondary healthcare services. Results: Approximately 40% of the health facilities were located in Akumadan, the district capital. Primary healthcare accessibility within a 3km radius covered 35% of settlements and 59% of the population, while secondary healthcare, within a 5km radius, was accessible to only 11.3% of settlements and 27.2% of the population. The mean distance to health centres was 4.35±2.72 km and to hospitals was 10.35±5.77 km. Mean walking times were 87±54.6 minutes to health centres and 209.2±117.0 minutes to hospitals. By motorized transport, travel times were up to 24 minutes to health centres and 55 minutes to hospitals; by bicycle, up to 37 minutes to health centres and 190 minutes to hospitals. Chi-Square Tests revealed significant associations between settlement type and both primary (χ²(1, N=80) = 30.77, p Conclusion: This study unveils substantial disparities in healthcare accessibility, characterized by uneven distribution of facilities and remote distances. Challenges include limited infrastructure and geographic isolation. Addressing these requires enhanced infrastructure, transport networks, expanding outreach services, and equitable policy reforms to promote health equity.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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