A geospatial database of close to reality travel times to obstetric emergency care in 15 Nigerian conurbations

Peter M. Macharia
Kerry L. M. Wong
Tope Olubodun
Lenka Beňová
Charlotte Stanton
Narayanan Sundararajan
Yash Shah
Mansi Kansal
Swapnil Vispute
Uchenna Gwacham-Anisiobi
Olakunmi Ogunyemi
Jia Wang
Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Abejirinde
Prestige Tatenda Makanga
Bosede B. Afolabi
Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas
Scientific Data, TBD (2023), TBD

Abstract

Travel time estimation accounting for on-the-ground realities between the location where a need for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) arises and the health facility capable of providing such services is essential for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Current understanding of travel time to care is particularly inadequate in urban areas where short distances obscure long travel times, and also in low-resource settings. Here, we describe a database of travel times to facilities that can provide comprehensive EmOC in the 15 most populated extended urban areas (conurbations) in Nigeria. The travel times from cells of approximately 0.6 x 0.6km to facilities were derived based on Google Maps Platform’s internal Directions Application Programming Interface (API). The API incorporates estimates of traffic to provide closer-to-reality estimates of travel time. Computations were done to the first, second and third nearest public or private facilities. Travel time estimates for eight traffic scenarios (including peak and non-peak periods) and number of facilities within specific time thresholds were estimated. The database offers a plethora of opportunities for research and planning towards improving EmOC accessibility.

Research Areas