The spatial distribution of health centers in the city of Baquba and their relationship with Population density and Transport networks (an empirical study in urban geography)

Abstract

Transportation is a vital topic in order to access health care, especially in the urban and rural areas of Baquba city, where the travel distances between health centers and residents (accessibility). There is significant evidence that healthcare utilization is lower in rural areas than in urban areas. There are a number of possible explanations for these differences. In terms of that comparison, the proportion of population density, travel distances and the number of transportation options available in rural areas can be an important factor. Distances to regional health-care centers in rural areas can often be significant. The problem is compounded when a growing portion of the population in rural areas is elderly who require health care services and who have limited transportation options. This prompted an increasing number of elderly people who live in rural areas and who prefer to live in the workplace to move to city centers to improve their access to health care. This study deals with the effect of population density, types of transportation routes and their area on the distribution of health centers in the areas of Baquba city. These centers in the study areas suffer from problems caused by the difference in the distribution of population density and the connection of these health centers to transportation methods in relation to the city center and the countryside. This model was determined based on the formulation of two theories based on mathematical foundations and functions. The first theory explains the relationship between the population density of each region and the type of transportation network (street type and area) for the city of Baquba. While the second theory determines the distribution of health centers depending on the population density ratio extracted depending on the type and area of the street. According to the available data and through mathematical calculations, new results were obtained that determined the appropriate number of health centers needs for each of the study regions, depending on the population density and the nature of the road, which is an important factor in establishing health facilities.