Accessibility analysis of clinics in the Sekhukhune District Municipality, South Africa

Access to healthcare is a complex and multifaceted issue exacerbated by geographic disparities, scarce health resources, and topographical challenges. Clinics are the primary entry points to healthcare, more so in rural areas in South Africa. Accessibility analyses are conducted to assess accessibility, especially in rural and mountainous regions. From the results, optimal locations for new clinics are determined to improve accessibility. The study is based on the norms and standards set by the health department regarding the maximum travel distance and population size serviced at a clinic. The analysis was conducted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and specialized accessibility analysis software. The results revealed that the geographical distribution of clinics, travel distance, and mountainous terrain in the Sekhukhune District Municipality significantly contribute to the lack of access to clinics. The current spatial distribution of clinics cannot provide the population with equitable healthcare services. Based on the 10-kilometre travel distance and the 10,000-population requirement by the South African Department of Health to warrant a clinic, more than half of the 1,076,840 persons, namely 573,946 persons, are not assigned to any clinic in the district municipality . Based on the study’s results, it is recommended that 10 new clinics be built to improve accessibility.