Abstract Summary/Description
Introduction Global temperatures are rising, resulting in sea level rise (SLR) that will damage and disconnect coastal communities. It is, however, unknown how these communities will be affected regarding their access to healthcare. Examining the effect of SLR on healthcare accessibility is essential for equitably advocating for the future stability of coastal communities. This study seeks to 1) determine to what extent healthcare accessibility is affected as a result of SLR, and 2) identify the sociodemographic characteristics of the affected neighborhoods. Methods This study uses primary care and mental healthcare datasets in Chatham County, Georgia and Duval County, Florida as well as SLR data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To explore future healthcare access within these communities, preliminary research utilizes a network analyst tool to examine healthcare facility service areas, expressed in ranges of time (0-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20-30, and 30-40 minutes) required to drive to healthcare facilities for 2020 and 2100 (with five feet of SLR). Results Results reveal an average of 85% of community residents will experience a reduction in healthcare accessibility by 2100. The results of the sociodemographic analyses reveal that affected residents in Chatham County are more likely to be low-income, black, and younger (below 44) while affected residents in Duval County are more likely to be middle-to-high income, white, and older (above 45). These results highlight the universal applicability of this research to coastal communities at risk of experiencing SLR.
