Objective: The study addresses the wider question of whether accessibility of the existing primary health cares (PHCs) is sufficient to provide services to individuals. Based on this question, the aim of this study was to gen erate quantitative evidence regarding PHC spatial access in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct this descriptive study. Jeddah second cluster-Jed dah city (J2-J) had a total of 18 PHCs with a total population of 1.7 million, which represents 49.4% of the total population of Jeddah city.
Results: The Al-Safa 1 and 2 district health centers were located in the areas with the highest population densities, with populations of 209 908 (12.4%) and 187 233 (11.1%) of the l J2-J total population, respectively. On average, individuals living in sparsely populated areas must travel 3.05 to 4.65 km to reach their nearest PHC, while individuals living in highly populated areas must travel an average of 1.13 to 1.85 km to their nearest PHC. In J2-J, the population density varies significantly between districts, with services concentrated in some highly populated areas. While most J2-J residents were located within reasonable distance of their nearest PHC, some PHCs provided services to up to 200,000 people.
Conclusion: Despite the current reforms affecting the health care system, particularly those pertaining to the new model of care, the capacity of PHCs is insufficient to satisfy the demands of the population.
Key words: Primary health care, GIS, distance, population, Saudi Arabia.
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