Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name:Sonia Badar, Hafiza Huma Haider, Kashif Mahmood
Author-Email:kashif.mahmood@gcuf.edu.pk
Author-Workplace-Name:Department of Geography, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
Title:Barriers to Maternal Health Care Accessibility and Its Causal Determinants in Faisalabad, Pakistan: A Geospatial Assessment
Abstract:Access to maternal healthcare is a critical determinant of maternal and neonatal health outcomes,  yet  it  remains  a  neglected  issue  in  many  developing  regions,  including Pakistan. This study investigates the spatial distribution and accessibility of maternalhealthcare  facilities  in  Faisalabad  District  using  Geographic  Information  System  (GIS) techniques, including point distance analysis and multiple ring buffer analysis. A total of 230 female respondents from six tehsils were surveyed using a structured questionnaire, with data gathered  from  two  major  public  hospitals  in  the  district.  There  are  155  Basic  Health  Units (BHUs) operating within Faisalabad District. 45.2% of respondents reported good accessibility to  maternal  health  facilities,  while  43%  reportedbad  and  11.7%  worse  access.  The  highest concentration of cases (78 respondents) was within 6–10 km of a health facility. The findings reveal  significant  spatial  disparities  in  access  to  healthcare  facilities,  particularly  in  rural  and peripheral areas such as Tandlianwala, Chak Jhumra, and Samundri. Many women reside more than  20  kilometers  from  the  nearest  well-equipped  hospital,  and  road  conditions—ranging from  poor  to  non-existent—further  limit  physical  accessibility.  The  multiple  ring  buffer analysis demonstrates that several remote settlements fall outside the 12-mile buffer, indicating critical  service  gaps.  Additionally,  economic  constraints  and  lack  of  public  transportation exacerbate   the   situation,   limiting  women's   ability   to  seek   timely   antenatal care.  The overcrowding of urban public hospitals and the high cost and low quality of private healthcare further  restrict  options  for  low-income  groups.  The  study  underscores  the  urgent  need  for decentralized  planning,  infrastructure  improvement,  and  equitable  distribution  of  maternal health services, especially in underserved rural regions.
Keywords:Maternal Health Care, Geospatial Accessibility, Maternal Mortality, Determinants, Pakistan
Journal: International Journal of Innovations in Science and Technology
Pages:2184-2196
Volume:7
Issue:3
Year: 2025
Month:September
File-URL:https://journal.50sea.com/index.php/IJIST/article/view/1556/2158
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-URL:https://journal.50sea.com/index.php/IJIST/article/view/1556
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:abq:IJIST:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:2184-2196