 Corresponding author: Sumaiyat Kpanja Abdullahi Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Distribution and patronage of health facilities in Lafia, Nasarawa state, Nigeria Sumaiyat Kpanja Abdullahi 1, * , Adewale Mukhtar Olayiwola 2 , Nnaemeka Michael Ihenacho 1 , Halimat Ifedolapo Oriola 1 , Epsar Philip Kopteer 1 , Philip Okoh Amodu 1 , Amina Abubakar Nasir 1 , Salau Wakeel Olorunwa 2 , Kamila Abba Tukur 1 , Nkechinyere Gift Nwagwu 1 , Chikodili Evans Ezurike 1 , Kikelomo Oluwabukola Adebo 1 , Godwin Ogbonnia Urom 1 , Muhammad Hassan Kudu 1 , Augustine Abah Odeh 1 , Elizabeth Jackson Rizga 1 , Udya Aniya 1 , Binta Ahmad 1 , Dolly Nkere Emmanuel 1 and Chinenye Ann Nweke 1 1 National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria. 2 African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education- English (Arcsste-E), Ile- Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(03), 289–300 Publication history: Received on 14 January 2024; revised on 27 February 2024; accepted on 01 March 2024 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.0622 Abstract Health facilities are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care centers. The study aimed at assessing and classifying the distribution and patronage of health facilities in Lafia, Nasarawa state with the objectives to classify the distribution of the primary health centers in Lafia, Nasarawa State; examine the spatial distribution of primary health centers in the study area; and assess the patronage pattern of primary health centers in the study area. The study utilizes the use of primary and secondary data to include questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation analyses using ArcGIS 10.4, Microsoft Excel, and SPSS software. The study area's primary health facilities were found to be clustered, with an Rn of NNR less than 1.0 and a less than 1% likelihood of random chance at (P< 0.01). Regression analysis showed negative coefficient values, meaning that the study area's primary health facility patronage falls as inhabitants' distance from health facilities increases (P< 0.05). The socio-economic data reveals that 56.1% of the sampled population, predominantly aged 21-40, consists of respondents. The survey revealed that only 6.3% of the population had formal education, and 72.5% of public health facilities (PHFs) were government-owned, while 22.4% were privately owned. Therefore, the prevailing trend of location analysis calls for proper planning, and GIS tools are needed for research on health facility distribution and patronage in Lafia Nasarawa state, identifying coverage gaps, and recommending intervention and planning strategies to improve health. Keywords: Health facilities; Ministry of health; NPHCDA; Distribution; Clustered pattern; Patronage and Distance 1. Introduction Social facilities are simply regarded as any enclosed building established to serve several public services geared towards aiding and supporting to particular group or the whole society or community [1]. Social facilities are also noted as any buildings where the execution of social services can be seen. These facilities are identified to include schools, fire brigade station, cemetery, hotel, public convenience, restaurant, community center, stadium, health facilities among others. Secondary Health Facilities (SHF) are provided by regional or district clinics that offer inpatient services and outpatient consultation [2; 3; 4]. However, the persistence in the halting of the spread of avoidable diseases is one of the aims of sustainable development goals [2]. Similarly, the continuous preservation of this aim is a function of the spatial distribution pattern of the healthcare facilities and a measure of healthcare accessibility which in turn induced the