A Geographical Perspective on Access to Sexual & Reproductive Health Care for Women in Rural Africa

Utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services can significantly impact health outcomes, such as pregnancy and birth, prenatal and neonatal mortality, maternal morbidity and mortality, and vertical transmission of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS. 

It has long been recognized that access to SRH services is essential to positive health outcomes, especially in rural areas of developing countries, where long distances as well as poor transportation conditions, can be potential barriers to health care acquisition. Improving accessibility of health services for target populations is therefore critical for specialized healthcare programs. Thus, understanding and evaluation of current access to health care is crucial. 

Combining spatial information using geographical information system (GIS) with population survey data, this study details a gravity model-based method to measure and evaluate access to SRH services in rural Mozambique, and analyzes potential geographic access to such services, using family planning as an example. Access is found to be a significant factor in reported behavior, superior to traditional distance-based indicators. Spatial disparities in geographic access among different population groups also appear to exist, likely affecting overall program success.

Below:  Study area and data

Below:  Health service quality of clinics

Below:  Potential geographic access of communities

Below:  Spatial variation of potential geographic access

Full article at: http://goo.gl/bQ4oR9

By: Jing Yao,a,* Alan T. Murray,b and Victor Agadjanianc

^a Centre for GeoInformatics, School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK

^b GeoDa Center for Geospatial Analysis and Computation, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA

^c Center for Population Dynamics, T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA

^* Corresponding author. School of Geography & Geosciences, Irvine Building, University of St Andrews, North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9AL, Fife, Scotland, UK. Tel.: +44 01334 464026; fax: +44 01334 463949. Email: ku.ca.swerdna-ts@oay.gnij, Email: moc.liamg@usaoayj (J. Yao).

   

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