Geospatial Analysis of Dental Access and Workforce Distribution in Kenya

Ann Glob Health. 2022 Nov 21;88(1):104. doi: 10.5334/aogh.3903. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background and objective: One of the major factors affecting access to quality oral healthcare in low- and middle-income countries is the under-supply of the dental workforce. The aim of this study was to use Geographical Information System (GIS) to analyse the distribution and accessibility of the dental workforce and facilities across the Kenyan counties.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study targeting dental professionals and their practices in Kenya in 2013. Using QGIS 3.16, these data were overlaid with data on population size and urbanization levels. For access measurement, buffers were drawn around each clinic at distances of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 km, and the population within each determined.

Findings: Nine hundred six dental professionals in 337 dental clinic locations were included in the study. Dentists, community oral health officers (equivalent to dental therapists) and dental technologists comprised 72%, 15% and 12%, respectively. Nairobi county with 100% urbanization and >4000 people/km2 had 43% of the workforce and a dentist to population ratio of 1:9,018. Wajir with an urbanization level of 15% and 12 people/km2 had no dental facility. Overall, 11%, 19%, 35% and 58% of the Kenyan population were within 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 km radius of a dental clinic respectively.

Conclusion: Maldistribution of dental workforce in Kenya persists, particularly in less urbanized and sparsely populated areas. GIS map production give health planners a better visual picture of areas that are most in need of health care services based on population profiles.

Keywords: Geographical Information System; Kenya; dental access; dental workforce distribution; dentists; population size; urbanization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Urbanization*

Grants and funding

The first author was under a full Australia Awards Scholarship at the time of conducting this study. In addition, support for publishing this manuscript was provided by the University of Washington Global Innovation Fund 2021.