Geographical Accessibility to Primary Health Care Center and Urban Planning in Fuenlabrada (Madrid)

Abstract

Background: The accesslbility of care can be inaproplate due to a scarce or nonexistent collaboration between health and urban planners at the time of urban planning Methods: The study was carried in the city of Fuenlabrada (145.506 inhabitans). located in the metropolitan area of Madrid. The city is divided in six Basic Zones with a Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in each one of them. Isometric curves between were drawn on a map between the “sarting“ and “destination” points (Residential points formed by group of houses and their PHCC. respectively). The average and maximal distances were calculated. A scale to meausure geographical accessibility was designed. Results: The 55.646 houses of the city were grouped into 209 “starting points” for the six PHCC (“destinaion point”). 93 isometric curves were drawn. The average and rnaxlmal distances were 910 and 3.900 meters. repectively. The application of our accesibility scale shows that 3 Basic Zones have optimum nccessibility, 2 have good accessibility an the last one has bad accessibility. Conclusions: The accessibility to tbe PHCC in Fuenlabreda is adequate. If the housing plan continues. in 1995 the City will need PHCC and a reorganization of Busic Zones.