Identifier

etd-10272015-094143

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geography and Anthropology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The accessibility of primary health care is fundamentally important to people’s life quality and wellbeing. Based on the block group level 2010 census data from the U.S. Census Bureau and primary health care data from Association of American Medical Colleges, this study focuses on measuring the primary health care accessibility using an extended kernel-density two Step Float Catchment Area method. The study area is the Mississippi State, which is ranked last state for health care. The objectives of this study are to calculate the accessibility and analyze the spatial and non-spatial disadvantages of communities in accessibility of primary health care of the Mississippi State. Results showed that the two-step floating catchment area integrated by a Gaussian function method is a viable method of calculating accessibility. Overall, urban and the fringe areas have higher spatial accessibility to primary health care, while lower accessibility areas are the suburban and rural areas. Relatively, Hinds County, Madison County, Rankin County, Lamer County, Forrest County, Jones County, Lauderdale County, and Lee County have higher accessibility, while some counties have lower accessibility, such as Marshall County, Winston County, Noxubee County, Wilkinson County, Smith County, and Greene County. From the factor analysis, those urban areas showed greater mobility disadvantages and higher health care needs. Besides, the attempts to integrate the health needs index and the mobility index with the spatial accessibility helps to balance accessibility with different non-spatial conditions. Additionally, this study provides implications for public policy about the health care distribution and the high health needs population.

Date

2015

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Wang, Lei

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.972

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