Spatial Econometric Analysis of the Impact of Health Infrastructure on TBC Patients

This study employs a spatial econometrics approach to analyse Tuberculosis (TB) cases across Indonesian provinces using panel data from 2017 - 2021. The findings reveal a distinct spatial pattern, with TB cases predominantly concentrated in the western region of Indonesia, notably in provinces on Java Island. Our SDM Fixed-Effect model indicates that health infrastructure, proxied by drinking water and sanitation does not directly affect TB incidents . In contrast, healthcare facility variables (such as the number of doctors and national health care insurance participation) and control variables (government healthcare expenditure and population density) exhibit a positive direct association with TB cases. Furthermore, two variables (access to drinking water and population density) indirectly affect TB incidence through spatial spillover effects. Henceforth, our results highlight the importance of government intervention in TB through better household health infrastructure quality, improvement of TB case detection and treatment affordability, and efficient resource allocation, especially in TB hotspot regions.