Équité socio-spatiale d’accès aux soins périnatals en milieu urbain

Abstract

Cities concentrate human potential and services within a short physical distance and are thus often perceived as places where everything is accessible. However, with regards to health, proximity does not systematically imply accessibility. Other social and cultural determinants limit access to health care. In perinatal health difficulties in access to health services can lead to late prenatal care (after the first trimester of pregnancy). Women with little care during pregnancy are at higher risk for premature birth and having low-birth weight babies. The purpose of the study was to elaborate a method to identify and analyse urban areas which are at risk of poor access to prenatal health services. Our model combines spatial and statistical analyses and reveals areas with multiple difficulties in access to prenatal care. Our results identify areas where specific interventions could be carried out in priority, to provide more equity in access to health care in urban area.

Keywords

• accessibility
• perinatal health
• social determinants
• spatial analysis
• urban area