Analyzing Racial Disparities in Preventive Healthcare Access Using Logistic Regression and Geospatial Clustering of Public Health Survey Data

Abstract

Persistent racial disparities in access to preventive healthcare services remain a pressing public health concern in the United States. This study investigates the extent and geographic distribution of these disparities by leveraging public health survey data collected at the state level. Employing logistic regression to model the likelihood of preventive care usage across racial and ethnic groups, and combining this with geospatial clustering to detect regional concentrations of healthcare inequity, the analysis offers a multidimensional perspective on healthcare access. Findings reveal that non-White populations, particularly Black and Hispanic communities, consistently report lower access to preventive services such as cancer screenings, vaccinations, and routine checkups. Spatial clustering reveals these disparities are more pronounced in Southern and rural counties. The study contributes to ongoing equity-focused health policy discussions and suggests targeted regional interventions based on racialized healthcare access patterns.