GIS Served Car Travel Times to Maternity Hospitals in the Kvemo Kartli Region, Georgia

This study aimed to evaluate car travel times to maternity hospitals in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia, with the objective of identifying underserved areas and informing priority interventions to reduce spatial inequalities in access to maternal healthcare services. The isochrone map showing car travel times to the maternity hospitals was created using geographical information systems (GIS), taking into account the location of the maternity hospitals, the length of the roads, and data on the maximum allowed speeds of the vehicles. The research highlights discrepancies in women's access to maternity hospitals in the Kvemo Kartli region. All three maternity hospitals are located in the most densely populated areas, close to each other. Access to maternity hospitals is markedly constrained across large parts of the Kvemo Kartli region, particularly in areas characterised by lower population density. Overall, 51% of women aged 15–49 reside within adequately served zones (car travel time < 30 minutes), while the remaining 49% live in underserved zones (car travel time > 30 minutes). This spatial disparity underscores substantial risks to maternal and infant health, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve healthcare accessibility. The most effective solution for reducing inequality in women's access to maternity hospitals is to either establish a new maternity hospital or relocate one of the three existing facilities to Bolnisi.