The Utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Health Planning and Epidemiology in Health Planning and Epidemiology Jaime Bech-Nappi and Glauber A. Gonçalves Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Rio 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

First Part

A HIS (Health Information System) is a “mechanism of retrieval, processing, analyzing and propagate the information needed to organize and operate health services and also to research and planning the 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 to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze and display all 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 DATA

Typical Instruments and produts used 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 for Health Administration

GIS COMBINES:  GEOREFERENCE DATA  SURVEILLANCE DATA  MANAGEMENT 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

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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 IN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL 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 instruction Water 1.5% - 3.0% 28.9% % 16.7% % 11.8% % 10.6% % 8.5% % 6.9% - 7.7% 5.4% - 6.9% 3.0% - 5.4% 7.7% %

Number of houses by censitary district

GIS IS A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT FOR HEALTH UTILISATION