Assessing Walking Healthcare Accessibility and Social Vulnerability in Boston: A Network-Based Equity Analysis
Author(s)
Tai, Yi
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to:
Permanent Link
Abstract
This study examines disparities in walking accessibility to healthcare facilities across neighborhoods with different levels of social vulnerability in Boston. Using the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), residential locations were classified into low, moderate, and high vulnerability groups. A pedestrian network derived from OpenStreetMap was used to calculate the number of healthcare facilities reachable within 500 m, 1000 m, and 1500 m walking thresholds.
Inequality in accessibility was assessed using population-weighted Gini coefficients and Theil-T indices, including within-group and between-group decomposition. Results show that high-vulnerability areas do not consistently experience lower accessibility. Instead, inequality is primarily driven by spatial variation within groups rather than differences between vulnerability categories.
These findings highlight the importance of urban spatial structure and street network connectivity in shaping equitable access to healthcare services.
Sponsor
Date
2026-04
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Applied Research Paper
Masters Project
Masters Project
Rights Statement
Unless otherwise noted, all materials are protected under U.S. Copyright Law and all rights are reserved