Geospatial Assessment of Health Indicators and Public Healthcare Services in Maharashtra, India

Good health is vital for the well-being of individuals and societies. Health indicators such as family planning, child health, and maternal health play a crucial role in determining population health outcomes. This study examines these indicators in Maharashtra, focusing on changes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Family planning, child health, and maternal health are critical areas affected by the pandemic’s disruptions. The research uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze regional disparities in healthcare accessibility and effectiveness, utilizing secondary data from sources like the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Health Management Information System (HMIS), and Maharashtra State Health Department. Maharashtra, with its diverse socio-economic and geographical conditions, experiences significant health disparities, with urban areas exhibiting better healthcare access compared to rural regions. The study reveals several trends. Family planning in districts like Osmanabad and Solapur showed a decline in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) ratio post-COVID, while sterilization rates remain higher in economically weaker districts. Maternal health indicators show a mixed response, with some districts exhibiting delays in early pregnancy registration, while others show improvements in institutional deliveries. Child health indicators highlight improvements in birth weight outcomes in certain districts but also show challenges in immunization coverage and the sex ratio at birth. Healthcare services are unevenly distributed, with rural areas suffering from a shortage of primary healthcare centers and medical professionals. This research emphasizes the need for targeted interventions in rural and underserved areas, focusing on enhancing healthcare infrastructure, maternal and child health services, and family planning programs. It also underscores the importance of using geospatial analysis for efficient resource allocation and policymaking.