Spatial Accessibility Modelling of Healthcare and Educational Facilities in Ikwerre and Emuoha Local Government Areas, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Access to public healthcare and education facilities is a key indicator of improved health status, education, and the socio-economic development of the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) uses the percentage of the population living within 5 km of a primary healthcare facility as an indicator of spatial accessibility. Access to health and education facilities aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, and 10. The study focused on modelling the spatial accessibility of public healthcare and educational facilities in Ikwerre and Emuoha LGAs of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative research approach to determine the coordinates of public healthcare and educational facilities using a GNSS positioning technique. Secondary data were obtained from Rivers State Ministry of Health, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Board, and other relevant agencies. Kernel Density Estimation was used to examine the spatial accessibility of the facilities. Proximity analysis was carried out using a 2 km buffer/radius search. Data were analysed using ArcGIS 10.7 and MS Excel 2019. The study identified 107 public facilities, out of which 82 were educational facilities and 25 were healthcare facilities. Ikwerre LGA had 60 (56%) public facilities while Emuoha had 47 (44%) public facilities. The nearest neighbour analysis of the educational facilities indicated that the facilities were randomly distributed, while KDE analysis identified Elele as the centre of attraction for educational facilities and Ogbakiri as the centre of attraction for healthcare facilities. The proximity analysis indicated that 72 (88%) of the 82 schools and 22 (88%) of the 25 healthcare facilities were located within the 2 km service radius of the communities. The study noted that educational facilities are more accessible than healthcare facilities in the study area. The provision of sufficient healthcare and educational facilities is imperative for improved accessibility.