Access to Healthcare Facilities and Social Well-being in Urban Areas
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Abstract
Healthcare services are one of the most important factors that define social conditions in urban settings. This paper explores the healthcare accessibility issue in four urban areas, namely Central Cityville, Midtown Suburbia, Riverside Shantytown, and Greenfield Heights, and the effects on the inhabitants’ health and social integration. Quantitative surveys and spatial analysis show that there are disparities in the healthcare facilities and usage in the community. Interviews and case studies provide additional qualitative data on the factors that hinder access to healthcare services such as socio-economic status and distance. The study reaffirms the role of socio-economic status in the use of health services and reveals that rich districts are healthier than poor districts with poor access to healthcare services. The comparison with the prior research supports the conclusion about the existing inequalities in healthcare access and the necessity of further interventions and changes in the policies to improve healthcare equity and social well-being in urban environments.
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