thesis
A geographic information system for local public health policy
- Publication date
- 3 November 1993
- Publisher
- This book deals with the development and use of a geographic information
system for local public health policy. Health differences between populations in
different geographical areas, large (countries) or small (city-neighbourhoods)
have always been a challenge to epidemiologists and policy makers. To
epidemiologists, these differences can give insight into the health effects of
certain exposures, for policy makers these differences can give rise to welltargeted
interventions.
Making epidemiological knowledge available to and suitable for policy makers is
a major task of the Municipal Health Service. A description of the health
situation by means of a community diagnosis can accommodate the requirements
of the local politicians. However, it is necessary that a community diagnosis is
provided not only for the total municipality, but also for separate districts and
neighbourhoods. For this purpose the Municipal Health Service in Rotterdam
started the development of a geographic information system. Three questions
form a central part in this study:
1. Is it possible to set up a geographic information system, in order
to obtain insight into the health situation in neighbourhoods?
2. Can such a geographic information system be used for epidemiological
research?
3. Can such a geographic information system be used for developing
and supporting local health policy?
In the first part of the study attention is focused on recent developments in
health policy, the concept of a community diagnosis and the potentials of
geographic information systems for local health policy. In the second part of the
study the theory is worked out for the situation in Rotterdam.