View
214
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Geography and HealthUsing geography to strengthen data and improve health in the developing world
John SpencerSenior GIS SpecialistMEASURE Evaluation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Healthy population is a vital part of a functional society
Poor health significant challenge for humanity
HIV*33 million adults worldwide living with HIV (2009)
2.1 million children under 15
TB**
1.3 million people died from TB in 2008
One-third of humanity infected with TB bacilli
Malaria**
247 million cases of malaria in 2008
Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria (20% of all childhood deaths on the continent)
*UNAIDS
** WHO
Photo source: auldhippo, Flickrhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/auldhippo/3489898073/
Billions (if not Trillions) of dollars are spent to improve health
International aid from governments
US Government (PEPFAR, USAID, CDC, DOD) European Union United Nations
Private foundations and charities
Gates Foundation Clinton Foundation CARE
National Efforts
Programs supported by individual governments with own funds
Data is key to improving health outcomes
Data sources
Routine reporting systems and surveillance
Provide data on health programs and health incidence
National surveys Routine reporting systems
Monitoring and Evaluation
Using data to better understand and track effectiveness of services and interventions
Geography can be the link between datasets
Everything happens somewhere
Geographic Cognizance Including geographic identifiers in data Using geography to make linkages
Decision support tools Maps Summary tables
Stronger data infrastructure Use available data to support decision making Validate and improve data
Better health outcomes Health programs and interventions that are based
on evidence are better than non-evidence based decisions
Challenges
Accuracy Accurately locating services and people How accurate is sufficient
Getting people to collect geographic data Data collection challenges Perspective that includes geography
Geography is dynamic Boundaries are fluid How to manage changes and keep record of past
geography