The Utilization of The Utilization of Geographic Information Geographic Information

Systems (GIS)Systems (GIS) in Health Planning and in Health Planning and

EpidemiologyEpidemiology

Jaime Bech-Nappi and Glauber A. Gonçalves

Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio GrandeRio Grande - RS - Brasil

Jaime Bech-Nappi MD PhD

Professor Chairman of Public Health

Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG)

Nucleo de Estudos em Administração e Saúde Coletiva(NEAS)

AND Glauber Acunha Gonçalves,MS

Assistant Professor

Laboratory of Remote Sensoring

FURG

mailto://neas@dmc.furg.br

First Part

A HIS (Health Information System)is a “mechanism of retrieval,processing,analyzingand propagatethe information needed to organize and operate health servicesand also to research and planningthe control of illness …”

(OMS European Regional Bureau 1992)

Two Concepts: a HIS ...

A GIS (Geographic Information System)is an “organized collection of computer hardware, software,geographic data and personnel designed toefficiently capture, store, update, manipulate,analyze and displayall forms of geographically referenced information”

(ESRI Inc. 1995)

... and GIS

Second Part

GIS Structure

A GIS that is used for health data administration’s is a HIS.

HEALT DATAHEALT DATA

Typical Instruments and produtsused in GIS Systems

GPS - Global Positioning System

Digitalizer Table

Plotter

Aerial Digital Photography

Typical Softwares GIS

Image Processing Systems

Simulations Mathematic and Statistical Operations

GIS Systems

STACKED MAP LAYERS: Each layer can representate a phenomena and the layers can be superposed.

Topography

Soils

Urban Areas

Water Distribution

GIS Data Structure

and Industrial Activities, Census data, Hospital and Health Stations, others, etc...

Health and ill-health phenomena distribute in time-spatial dimensions.

Each event has his geographic coordinates

The use of the GIS Data Structure forHealth Administration

GIS COMBINES:

GEOREFERENCE DATAGEOREFERENCE DATA

SURVEILLANCE DATASURVEILLANCE DATA

MANAGEMENT DATAMANAGEMENT DATA

In resume

FOR ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING

Third Part

Health of a country, a region, a community, involves several and different elements, all

interconnected.

Brazil

Bolivia

Argentina

Uruguai

Venezuela

Rio Grande City

Radarsat© Image

ArcView Data

N

EW

S

Health system of a city can be analised, for example, by the address of patients actually interned at the Hospital.

Childrens 0 - 5 years attended in University Hospital of Rio Grande / 1997

Epidemiologic Applications:VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES (1)

WATER-BORNE DISEASES (2)

EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (3)

LEAD HAZARDS (4)

PREDICTION PEDESTRIAN INJURIES (5)

ANALYSIS OF DISEASES POLICE (6)

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS (7)

DIFFERENTIAL MORTALITY (8)

Prediction of mortality rates, life expectancy, health condition, environmental hazards, have important consequences to determine national health capacity needs.

IMPROVES SPATIAL

ANALYSIS TASKS:

VISUALIZATION

EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS

MODEL BUILDING

GIS

HEALTH CARE PLANNING

GIS APPLICATIONS IN

TERRITORY-DEMOGRAPHIC

DELIMITED AREAS, ARE THE BASIS OF PRIMARY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

SPACE-TIME RELATIONSHIPS OF ENVIRONMENTAL

AND ILL-HEALTH ARE FUNDAMENTAL

COMPONENTS INEPIDEMIOLOGICAL

SURVEILLANCE

Sophisticated spatial analysis is related with optimal localization and complexity of resources destinated to each PHS

Rural and Metropolitan areas are beneficiated by this scientifical planning.

Percent of People with less than 3 years of instructi

Water

1.5% - 3.0%

28.9% - 80.6%

16.7% - 28.9%

11.8% - 16.7%

10.6% - 11.8%

8.5% - 10.6%

6.9% - 7.7%

5.4% - 6.9%

3.0% - 5.4%

7.7% - 08.5%

Number of houses by censitary district2 - 6263 - 132133 - 200201 - 299300 - 588

Agua.shpEstradas.shp

Number of houses by censitary district

GIS IS A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT FOR HEALTH UTILISATION