Using Geospatial Analysis to Determine Access Gaps Among Children with Special Healthcare Needs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Geospatial Analysis
• Child Development

Background:

• Children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN) often face challenges in accessing timely identification and evaluation services.
• Public child development centers (CDCs) are crucial points of contact for these services, but their resource distribution may not align with population needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine geospatial disparities in the identification and evaluation of CSHCN within public CDCs.
• To visualize service gaps and understand the spatial relationship between sociodemographic factors and CDC resources.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive geospatial design was employed to map service gaps.
• Analysis included area-level sociodemographic data of Virginia counties and patient-level data within CDCs.
• Geospatial analysis visualized the population density of uninsured children relative to CDC resources.

Main Results:

• Geospatial analysis identified areas with high concentrations of uninsured children lacking adequate CDC resources.
• Data visualization effectively highlighted specific care and screening gaps for CSHCN.
• The study demonstrated the utility of geospatial tools in identifying underserved populations.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative efforts between researchers and Health Departments can effectively identify gaps in access to care for CSHCN.
• Geospatial analysis provides valuable insights for targeted interventions and resource allocation.
• Addressing identified geospatial gaps is essential for improving healthcare access for CSHCN.