Accessibility of HIV Services in Philadelphia: Location-Allocation Analysis
As the first step in the HIV care continuum, timely diagnosis is central to reducing transmission of the virus and ending the HIV epidemic. Studies have shown that distance from a testing site is essential for ease of access to services and educational material. This study shows how location-allocation analysis can be used to improve allocation of HIV testing services utilizing existing publicly available data from 2015 to 2019 on HIV prevalence, testing site location, and factors related to HIV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The ArcGIS Location-Allocation analytic tool was used to calculate locations for HIV testing sites using a method that minimizes the distance between demand-point locations and service facilities. ZIP code level demand was initially specified on the basis of the percentage of late HIV diagnoses and in a sensitivity analysis on the basis of a composite of multiple factors. Travel time and distance from demand to facilities determined the facility location allocation. This analysis was conducted from 2021 to 2022. Compared with the 37 facilities located in 20 (43%) Philadelphia ZIP codes, the model proposed reallocating testing facilities to 37 (79%) ZIP codes using percent late diagnoses to define demand. On average, this would reduce distance to the facilities by 65% and travel time to the facilities by 56%. Results using the sensitivity analysis were similar. A wider distribution of HIV testing services across the city of Philadelphia may reduce distance and travel time to facilities, improve accessibility of testing, and in turn increase the percentage of people with knowledge of their status.
- Record URL:
- Record URL:
-
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07493797
-
Supplemental Notes:
- © 2022 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
-
Authors:
- Webster, Jessica L
- 0000-0002-0154-0506
- Thorpe, Lorna E
- Duncan, Dustin T
- 0000-0001-8586-8711
- Goldstein, Neal D
- 0000-0002-9597-5251
- Publication Date: 2022-12
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 1053-1061
-
Serial:
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Volume: 63
- Issue Number: 6
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 0749-3797
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07493797
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Accessibility; Health care services; Medical treatment
- Geographic Terms: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
- Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01870635
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jan 24 2023 9:28AM