An Empirical Study of the Geospatial Availability of Hospitals in Imo East using GPS Mapping

The accessibility of hospital facilities contributes to social stability and the protection of the fundamental human right to health care. This study aimed to examine the geographical distribution of hospital care facilities and their attribute information in the nine Local Government Areas LGA of the Imo East District by developing a database and producing a visual map of these facilities. The facilities investigated were divided into different groups by type, ownership, and operational state. The attribute data that makes up the database was obtained through questionnaires distributed to facility management. Geospatial data was collected using a handheld Global Positioning System GPS . The maps received from the government agencies integrated with the ArcGIS environment were used for the visual mapping of the facilities. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS was used to analyze the data. The results suggest that there are 837 health facilities, with Ahiazu and Ezinihitte having the fewest 8.1 and 8.5 , respectively , and Ngor Okpala having the most sparsely distributed. The areas with the most facilities are Aboh and Ikeduru, with 13.3 and 13.0 , respectively. The ownership of private and public facilities was 59.3 and 40.7 , respectively. The facilities are not evenly dispersed, and their standards vary substantially. The database created would surely aid in management, planning, and encouraging new avenues in health administration. The visual map produced illustrates the locations of health institutions, and road connectivity by type, and is an essential source of health information. The visual map available to the public can increase the number of patients who travel to the proper hospitals and prevent patients from seeking health treatment in the wrong place. As a result, the findings of this study may aid in the administration of health facilities and future planning. Umunnakwe George E. | Obasi Ibe B. "An Empirical Study of the Geospatial Availability of Hospitals in Imo East using GPS Mapping" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-3 , June 2023, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/papers/ijtsrd56325.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/56325/an-empirical-study-of-the-geospatial-availability-of-hospitals-in-imo-east-using-gps-mapping/umunnakwe-george-e