Spatial Patterns of Health Facilities and Disease in Calabar

The research delved into the spatial distribution of health facilities and the prevalence of infectious diseases in Calabar, Nigeria. Data collection predominantly relied on questionnaires, the utilization of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a Geographic Information System (GIS). The gathered data underwent analysis employing inferential statistics, specifically utilizing nearest neighbor analysis. A formulated hypothesis underwent testing, yielding a calculated value of 0.004. This value revealed a concentration of health facilities in clusters around the metropolis of the study center, with fewer points dispersed towards the outskirts of the study area. Notably, 34 percent of respondents did not reside within the World Health Organization's recommended distance from health facilities. Furthermore, 40.2 percent were close to primary health facilities, 29.9 percent to secondary health facilities, and 14.9 percent visited tertiary health facilities. Additionally, 5.1 percent sought healthcare from herbal homes. The findings indicated that typhoid disease accounted for 27.1 percent of total cases over a decade, while sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) constituted 13.1 percent. The study advocates for the equitable distribution of healthcare facilities by healthcare agencies to effectively control infectious diseases in the studied area.