Spatial Distribution and Accessibility of Health Facilities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Halting the spread of preventable diseases is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with 2015 as target period for achievement. The attainment of this goal is a function of the spatial pattern of distribution of healthcare facilities and a measure of the degree of accessibility to healthcare services. This paper therefore analyzed the spatial patterns of healthcare facilities in Akwa Ibom State against the philosophy of achieving the MDGs in the health sector. Data from official records of government establishments were obtained while field
observation in 50 rural communities was carried out using spatial sampling framework. Data on six health indicator variables were obtained and analyzed to assess the levels of access to healthcare facilities. The result
depicts a lopsided distributional pattern of healthcare facilities and thus hinders good access to high quality healthcare services in the state. The paper concludes that the regional trend of development in the health sector is at variance with the subscription of the MDGs and the target achievement period of 2015 seems to be an illusion unless there is an aggressive intervention measures on the part of government.

Key words: Accessibility, Health Facilities, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Overview