Spatial Analysis of Healthcare Facility Distribution and Accessibility in Maiduguri Metropolitan Area

Equitable distribution of healthcare facilities is a fundamental objective of urban and regional planning, particularly in cities affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. This study conducts a spatial analysis of healthcare facility distribution and accessibility in Maiduguri Metropolitan Area, Borno State, North East Nigeria, a city that has experienced severe infrastructure disruption due to insurgency. Using GIS-based spatial analysis techniques, the locations of public hospitals, primary health centres, and clinics were mapped and evaluated against population distribution data from the National Population Commission 2022 estimates. A survey of 175 residents across selected wards collected data on healthcare access time, transportation barriers, and utilization patterns. Interviews were conducted with Borno State Ministry of Health officials and representatives of humanitarian organizations active in the area. The study computes accessibility indices for each ward, identifying areas with critical healthcare gaps particularly in newly resettled communities at the city's periphery. Findings reveal spatial clustering of formal healthcare facilities in central wards, leaving outer settlements and IDPs underserved. The research recommends deployment of mobile health units to serve displaced populations, strategic siting of new primary health centres in underserved wards, and integration of healthcare access criteria into Maiduguri's post-conflict urban recovery plans. Keywords: Healthcare accessibility, Spatial analysis, Maiduguri, Conflict-affected cities, GIS.