Geospatial Assessment of the Distribution and Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Kaduna South Local Government Area

This study conducted a geospatial assessment of the distribution, accessibility, and functionality of healthcare facilities in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The objectives were to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of healthcare facilities, determine their categories and ownership, and assess accessibility across different wards. Data were obtained from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Kaduna South LGA Health Department, while facility coordinates were captured using a handheld GPS device. Descriptive statistics, Average Nearest Neighbor analysis, and an Origin-Destination Cost Matrix were employed to analyze distribution characteristics, spatial patterns, and travel-time accessibility, respectively. The findings revealed a spatially uneven and inequitable distribution of healthcare facilities, with a concentration in central wards such as Tudun Wada and Barnawa and a scarcity in peripheral areas such as Badiko and Unguwan Sanusi. Although the Average Nearest Neighbor ratio (NNR=0.99, p=0.93) indicated a statistically random pattern, the observed clustering in urban centers created underserved “healthcare deserts” at the periphery. The healthcare system is dominated by primary (52.0%) and secondary (46.7%) facilities, with only one tertiary facility (1.3%), and a near-equal distribution between private (52%) and public (48%) ownership, highlighting a heavy reliance on the private sector. Accessibility analysis revealed significant travel-time disparities, with central wards having rapid access (0.15 minutes) and peripheral wards such as Badiko experiencing the longest travel times (2.6 minutes). The study concludes that healthcare distribution in Kaduna South LGA is spatially imbalanced, structurally limited at higher levels of care, and inequitable in terms of accessibility. It recommends establishing new facilities in underserved wards, upgrading existing healthcare infrastructure, regulating private healthcare services, and improving transport networks to enhance equitable access to healthcare.