Spatial Distribution of Healthcare Facilities and Service Coverage Gaps in Anambra State

Equitable spatial distribution of healthcare facilities is a prerequisite for achieving universal health coverage targets under Nigeria's National Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goal 3. This study examines the spatial distribution of public and private health facilities in Anambra State and identifies service coverage gaps using GIS proximity and catchment area analyses. Data on 842 registered health facilities are obtained from the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency and geocoded from address records and GPS field verification. Thiessen polygon analysis and two-kilometre Euclidean buffer zones are computed to delineate service catchment areas, and population data from the National Population Commission projections for 2023 are used to estimate the number of residents without proximate access to healthcare. Results reveal significant spatial inequalities in facility distribution, with dense clustering in Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi urban centres contrasting with substantial gaps in rural communities of Ayamelum, Ogbaru, and Anambra West LGAs. Over 180,000 residents are estimated to live more than five kilometres from any primary health facility. The study presents a prioritisation map for new facility siting, ranked by unserved population density. Findings are submitted to the Anambra State Ministry of Health to inform capital investment planning. Keywords: healthcare facility mapping, GIS, service coverage, Anambra State, spatial inequity.