The impact of road construction on hospital in-patient catchments in the Meru District of Kenya
Airey, T.
Social Science and Medicine 29(1): 95-106
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0277-9536 PMID: 2740932 DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(89)90132-9Document Number: 361963
This paper examines the effects of road improvements on in-patient catchments for two mission hospitals in Kenya. Two hypotheses, that the road improvements will widen and intensify the use of the two hospitals by more distant populations are tested. They are only partially upheld; the main impact of the new road has been in the shortening of the road distance to the hospitals rather than improving geographical accessibility. Institutional barriers on accessibility are identified as important constraints preventing this anticipated benefit. In particular, the economic barrier of fee paying treatment seems to be a major restriction on wider accessibility. Religious barriers are also inferred to prevail among potential users of the hospitals.