Role of Healthcare Workers in Decreasing Morbidity Rate: A Spatial Analysis in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract Background: Healthcare workers, including nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and public health professionals, play a critical role in reducing morbidity rates through primary care services. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the association between healthcare workers and morbidity rates in Aceh Province using a spatial regression approach. Materials and Methods: This study used secondary data from the Economic Social Survey of Aceh Province, which included morbidity information from 13,510 respondents, and data from the Aceh Provincial Health Agency on the number of healthcare workers. A spatial regression analysis using a spatial error model was performed to examine the relationship between the distribution of healthcare workers and morbidity rates while accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Moran’s I statistic was applied to evaluate the spatial clustering of morbidity rates, and the findings were visualized using geographic maps and spatial scatter plots. Results: Moran’s I statistic revealed a statistically significant positive spatial autocorrelation in morbidity rates (Moran’s I = 0.29, P = 0.009). The study found significant inverse associations between morbidity rates and the number of nurses ( β = −0.01, P < 0.001) as well as pharmacists ( β = −0.09, P = 0.007). The impact of midwives was weaker and marginally significant ( β = −0.01, P = 0.053), while public health professionals showed an inverse but statistically insignificant relationship ( β = −0.05, P = 0.106). Conclusion: Nurses and pharmacists have critical roles in reducing morbidity rates in Aceh Province, emphasizing the need for their equitable distribution and enhanced training.