Geo-Spatial Burden of Disease

Spatial geography, in principle, is known to investigate how the world differs from place-to-place Geography takes a geographical approach, focusing on location and space. In that regard, the unit of BoD investigates the geographical dimensions of on the occurrence and distribution of diseases at the EPHI, As part of the activity, issues related to the sources of diseases and their potential relation with the environment will be addressed. Besides, major epidemiological enquiries such as where people would go to receive medical help will also be investigated. To do all these things however, geographers make use of a variety of tools techniques including maps, spatial statistics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

GIS are computer-based tools for storing, visualizing, analyzing, and interpreting geographic data. Anything that can be linked to a location in the globe, or anything that can be mapped, is included can be categorized under this sort of data. Instances of diseases, the location of hospitals, highways, waterways, country borders, and even catchment areas of health are worth to mention as major case in points of spatial data. The data in a GIS usually include characteristics or descriptive information.

Generally, Geographic Information System, Environmental Health Resources, Public Health Resources, and Social Determinants of Health Resources data are the four topic areas in which Geospatial Data Resources are grouped. Each dataset will be associated with a group, and those who are interested will be able to access and download datasets for use in GIS’ BOD Website. In that regard, the spatial data and its attribute will be gathered in data repository unit, these include:

1. Geographic Information System data and Software packages,
2. Environmental Health Resources data,
3. Public Health Resources data,
4. Social Determinants of Health Resources data