GIS has become another tool for public health professionals to track the status and distribution of health indicators. Epidemiologists, public health administrators, certified environmental hygienists and other public health professionals are utilizing GIS more often. Public health students should acquire a working knowledge and understanding of GIS in order to become the public health professional for the 21st century.
For an introductory course on desk-top computerized applications in epidemiology, interactive modules and hands on experience gave the public health students/practitioners an opportunity to view GIS as another tool for public health.
Public health students can be provided with an overview of the history, development, software and hardware requirements, capabilities and limitations of a GIS system. Along with the characteristics of a GIS system, the public health students are exposed to various applications of GIS for public health. GIS examples addressing public health issues were covered and a computer-based GIS application focused on thematic mapping. ArcView was used in order to allow public health students to map priority health issues using appropriate census geography; apply various mapping techniques to public health issues (choropleth, dot density, etc.) Course objectives included:
Understand the components and importance of GIS to public
health. Develop health profiles using GIS Understand the capabilities and
appropriate use of GIS. Understand and apply GIS to public health problems.
Work cooperatively with others in developing a public health assessment for a
census geography. To understand the application of geographic information
systems and the Internet as a resource to public health. The topics covered for
the public health students were: History and Development of Cartography:
Introduction and overview of GIS Maps Key concepts of Geography Introduction to
GIS thematic mappingand Map Projections Semester project Develop health
profile for a census geography. Semester project will be to create a census
geography area health inventory by mapping the following: Demographic data by
age group, race/ethnicity and gender
Socioeconomicmeasures
Maternal andChild Health measures
10 Leading causes of death
5 communicabledisease measures
Measures in Thematic Mapping
Ratio, proportion,percent
Interquartile range, frequency distribution, histograms, areal concentration
and association
geographical analysis
Choropleth Mapping
Dot Density Mapping
Proportional Symbol Mapping
Cartograms: Value-by-Area Mapping
Presentation of semester projects
REFERENCES
Dent, Borden D. (1999). Cartography: Thematic Map Design (5th edition)
Arcview GIS manual
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice,1999 5(vols 2,4)
Simon Choi, PhD, MPH
KUMC