@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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