ABSTRACT
Spatial patterns of diseases are often complex and intricate. We have seen from previous chapters and illustrations that spatial epidemiological methods can not only capture and identify gross and simplistic patterns but also can assist in the evaluation of disease risks and offer etiologic insights. Using geography to study disease or health care topics stems from the need to appreciate and recognize factors causing nonuniformity of disease distribution. These factors may include human (e.g., genetic, demographic, social, economic, cultural) and ecological (e.g., physical, environmental) bases of the disease setting. Because humans have difficulty examining and visualizing possible spatial associations in tabular displays, GIS performs a vital role in facilitating spatial understanding of multiple epidemiological factors to reveal trends, dependencies, and interrelationships that may not be observed as readily in the tabular formats.1,2
Person, place, and time are the three basic elements of epidemiology and outbreak investigations, and GIS allows the integration of all these elements onto a single platform. With the ever-growing demand of the public’s right to know about environmental and community health matters, there is a pressing need to have more timely and effective response systems to address the present and changing conditions, as well as deliver early warnings on intervention and preventive measures. We are aware of the potential advantages of GIS over the conventional methods in health care analysis, surveillance, and planning. The potential applications of GIS in spatial epidemiology are limitless and await further exploration and research.
