Multi-Criteria Suitability Analysis of Healthcare Infrastructure for Optimized Health Service Delivery in Uyo, Nigeria

This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistical techniques to evaluate the inventory, structural composition, and geographical distribution of healthcare facilities (HCF) in Uyo Capital City, Nigeria. Utilizing handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers for primary data collection and ArcGIS 10.8 for spatial modeling, the research identified 64 healthcare facilities within the study area. An inventory analysis revealed a significant structural imbalance in the healthcare hierarchy: 14 facilities (22.6%) are categorized as Primary Health Care (PHC), 49 (76.6%) as Secondary facilities—predominantly privately owned—and only one (1.6%) as a Tertiary facility. The spatial pattern of distribution was assessed using Nearest Neighbour Analysis (NNA), yielding a Nearest Neighbour Ratio (Rn) of 0.603357 and a highly significant z-score of -5.926470 (p < 0.01). These statistics confirm a significantly clustered distribution pattern, with infrastructure concentrated primarily within the urban core (Eniong, Oku, Uyo, and Aka regions) while the suburban fringes remain underserved. Furthermore, the study evaluated accessibility based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standard walking distance of 4 km. The findings indicate that while central urban residents enjoy high proximity, peripheral communities such as Ikot Udo Ibiono and Mbiakong Uruan suffer from locational disadvantage and increased travel burdens. This manifestation of the “Inverse Care Law” suggests that private-sector dominance has driven facility placement toward high-population density areas at the expense of equitable spatial coverage. The study concludes that the current distribution is uneven and inadequate for the city’s projected growth. It recommends the strategic siting of new public PHCs in identified “blind spots” and the adoption of GIS-driven suitability modeling by the Ministry of Health to ensure healthcare delivery transitions from a clustered urban luxury to a spatially accessible right for all citizens.

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