Untangling the thread: Exploring maternal healthcare vulnerability amidst unequal health infrastructure in Islampur C.D. Block, Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

This study explores the spatial disparities in maternal healthcare services within the Islampur C.D. Block of Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, through Geographic Information System (GIS) modeling. The research addresses four pivotal factors: accessibility of healthcare facilities, evaluation of government service areas, identification of underserved regions, and analysis of spatial disparities in healthcare utilization. By employing GIS techniques such as road network analysis, overlay analysis, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the study uncovers the significant influence of population pressure, the distribution of healthcare workforce, and proximity to healthcare facilities on the accessibility and quality of maternal healthcare services (MHCS). The PCA analysis identifies that areas with high population density and limited healthcare resources face considerable challenges in accessing maternal care, highlighting Gaisol-II Gram Panchayat (GP) as the area with the highest level of inequality in service access. In contrast, Gunjaria GP emerges with the highest positive Concentration Index for healthcare access. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as equitable healthcare service distribution, balanced allocation of healthcare professionals, and improvements in transportation infrastructure, to address these disparities.