Spatial distribution of health consultations in the past two weeks by provider type and district: Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2014-15.

ABSTRACT

Place is a nexus between epidemiology and Geographic Information System. In this study, the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement survey 2014-15 data on percent distribution of health consultations, in the past 2-weeks by type of healthcare provider were mapped cumulatively, as well as disaggregated by urban and rural areas, using a GIS programme to visualize spatial distribution in the country by district. Private sector is the main and preferred provider for healthcare services when Pakistanis get sick or injured. Differences between and within provinces - at the district level - exist, but in spite of significant investment by the government in public sector health and nutrition services; most people prefer going to private dispensaries and hospitals. Harnessing the visualization power of GIS for better decision making in health sector is contingent upon easy availability of up-to-date GIS shapefiles to analyze and depict health data on maps.