Geospatial modeling of access to ART

We use dynamic transmission models to assess the efficacy of interventions for infectious diseases. As epidemics evolve, it is beneficial to incorporate diverse models to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the disease dynamics and control measures. Differential equation models have successfully depicted long-term disease dynamics, but controlling lifelong endemic diseases like HIV requires consistent access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). In Sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare is a limited resource. Measuring disparities in ART access through a model that focuses on spatial healthcare provision and precisely evaluates a community's access to this resource is crucial. In this talk, I introduce a spatial interaction model that utilizes geospatial data to estimate the spatial accessibility of ART in Malawi. This model allows us to identify inequities in the opportunity to access ART which could be due to differences in demand for the treatment of HIV, ART supplies, or the geographic accessibility of healthcare facilities that provide ART.