Accessibility and Utilization of Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Service Centers among Tribes of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu: A GIS Approach

Ensuring equitable access to health services and improvement of living standards of tribal population with Sickle Cell Disease in Nilgiri district of Tamilnadu is an important issue in the district. This paper analyses the physical barriers with accessibility changes for various terrain features using Geographical Information System. Data was obtained from Non-Governmental Organization who service SCD patients (n 1748) in Nilgiri district. Slope, road networks, land use land cover, health centers and villages that were mapped as layers and converted to rasters. A buffer distance of 1 to 5 km interval was created to identify the hamlets within 5 km. An accessibility model was created using cost- distance to identify the travel time. Accessibility model shows that road, slope and land use land cover friction layers influences the travel time and act as major barrier. The average of 2 hours travel time was spent by the tribes overcoming the barriers. This study highlights vulnerable areas in Nilgiris district where health services facilities are lacking. The travelling time and distance obtained through accessibility model can be used for decision making and alternates suggestions