“We’re trying to heal, you know?” A mixed methods analysis of the spatial equity of General Practitioner services in the Waikato District Health Board region

Abstract

Inequitable access to health services can cause and exacerbate inequities in health outcomes and should therefore be monitored regularly to ensure that service distributions match population needs. Health service accessibility includes several factors and can be monitored using both quantitative and qualitative methods. We present an exploratory analysis of the spatial equity of general practice services in the Waikato District Health Board region using a mixed methods approach. Geographic Information Systems are used to assess the spatial accessibility of GP services, and in-depth qualitative interviews provide a better understanding of not only where inequities exist, but why they occur.