SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN AKURE SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examines the distribution and accessibility to healthcare facilities in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. GPS was used to pinpoint the location of each of the existing healthcare facilities in the 11 political wards of the study area. In other to establish the distribution pattern of public and private healthcare facilities, the Nearest Neighbour Analysis was used. Data were also collected using structured questionnaire administered on the residents of the 11 political wards in other to assess the accessibility pattern of residents to healthcare facilities in the study area, a total of 551 questionnaire were randomly administered on the residents. The result revealed that the distribution of healthcare facilities were random rather than being clustered or dispersed and that commuting distance to the healthcare facilities is within the WHO recommended distance. The study therefore recommend that stakeholders in the health sector and Town Planners should ensure equity in the distribution of public healthcare facilities across the Local Government Area and this should take into consideration the location of the existing healthcare facilities and apply the planning standard so as to promote equitable distribution of the healthcare facilities