Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Health Facilities in Benue State, Nigeria

摘要

The provision of adequate and equitable basic health services is becoming increasingly difficult due to rapid population growth, rising poverty levels and lack of available resources. One of the imperatives of health care provision is a concern for both social and spatial justice. This study is an attempt to examine the spatial distribution of health facilities in Benue State. The perspective taken is spatial and focuses on the problem of inadequacy and inequality of public health facilities among populations in Benue state. Health infrastructure provision within the State is analyzed along three lines: between Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state; between senatorial zones; and on the basis of population per facility using secondary data on number of health care facilities. The study shows that although public health care facilities were nearly equally distributed among the 3 senatorial districts of the state, variations exists between the LGAs and within each senatorial district in terms of the overall distribution of health facilities(public and private). In terms of existing relationship between population and number of health facilities provided, the R-square value of .564 explained the variance in number of health facilities to population. The implications of the mal-distribution manifest in overcrowding and consequent lack of proper attention to patients as well as poor access in some specific LGAs with vulnerable conditions of low number of health facilities especially among the rural dwellers. The study recommends a more robust investigation in the existing health care facilities with a view to establishing the levels of health manpower available, bedding and other facilities as well as the actual access levels individuals and communities have to health care facilities in Benue State.