Original Article
Spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions in Wuhan city
Abstract
Background: As one of the major medical resources, midwifery facilities provide important healthcare for maternal and newborn health. The research on the spatial distribution of midwifery facilities can help to improve the convenience of seeking midwifery service. The study explored the spatial distribution of midwifery institutions and residents in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province in China, with the aim to further optimize the planning and allocation of obstetric resources.
Methods: We located all the midwifery institutions in Wuhan and analyzed the spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions by using the Generalized 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (G2SFCA) method.
Results: The central districts of Wuhan were densely populated, with densely-distributed midwifery institutions; in contrast, the peripheral districts had low population densities, with diversely-scattered midwifery institutions. Thus, the spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions was good in the central districts of Wuhan but poor in the peripheral districts.
Conclusions: The spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions in Wuhan, as calculated by using the G2SFCA method, can reflect the convenience of Wuhan residents in seeking health care services and thus offer useful information for the planning and allocation of urban midwifery institutions and other medical resources.
Methods: We located all the midwifery institutions in Wuhan and analyzed the spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions by using the Generalized 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (G2SFCA) method.
Results: The central districts of Wuhan were densely populated, with densely-distributed midwifery institutions; in contrast, the peripheral districts had low population densities, with diversely-scattered midwifery institutions. Thus, the spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions was good in the central districts of Wuhan but poor in the peripheral districts.
Conclusions: The spatial accessibility to midwifery institutions in Wuhan, as calculated by using the G2SFCA method, can reflect the convenience of Wuhan residents in seeking health care services and thus offer useful information for the planning and allocation of urban midwifery institutions and other medical resources.
