scholarly journals Distance from Healthcare Facilities Is Associated with Increased Morbidity of Acute Infection in Pediatric Patients in Matiari, Pakistan

Author(s):  
Elise Corden ◽  
Saman Hasan Siddiqui ◽  
Yash Sharma ◽  
Muhammad Faraz Raghib ◽  
William Adorno ◽  
...  

The relationship between environmental factors and child health is not well understood in rural Pakistan. This study characterized the environmental factors related to the morbidity of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), diarrhea, and growth using geographical information systems (GIS) technology. Anthropometric, address and disease prevalence data were collected through the SEEM (Study of Environmental Enteropathy and Malnutrition) study in Matiari, Pakistan. Publicly available map data were used to compile coordinates of healthcare facilities. A Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to calculate the correlation between distance from healthcare facilities and participant growth and morbidity. Other continuous variables influencing these outcomes were analyzed using a random forest regression model. In this study of 416 children, we found that participants living closer to secondary hospitals had a lower prevalence of ARI (r = 0.154, p < 0.010) and diarrhea (r = 0.228, p < 0.001) as well as participants living closer to Maternal Health Centers (MHCs): ARI (r = 0.185, p < 0.002) and diarrhea (r = 0.223, p < 0.001) compared to those living near primary facilities. Our random forest model showed that distance has high variable importance in the context of disease prevalence. Our results indicated that participants closer to more basic healthcare facilities reported a higher prevalence of both diarrhea and ARI than those near more urban facilities, highlighting potential public policy gaps in ameliorating rural health.

Author(s):  
Elise Corden ◽  
Saman Hasan Siddiqui ◽  
Yash Sharma ◽  
Muhammad Faraz Raghib ◽  
William Adorno III ◽  
...  

Infectious disease is the leading cause of mortality in children under five. This study has investigated environmental factors related to the morbidity of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), diarrhea, and growth using geographical information systems (GIS) technology. Anthropometric, address and disease prevalence data were collected through the SEEM study in Matiari, Pakistan. Publicly available map data was used to compile coordinates of healthcare facilities. A Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to calculate the correlation between distance from healthcare facilities and participant growth and morbidity. Other continuous variables influencing these outcomes were analyzed using a random forest regression model. In this study of 416 children, we found participants living closer to secondary hospitals had lower prevalence of ARI (r=0.154, p&amp;lt;0.010) and diarrhea (r=0.228, p&amp;lt;0.001) as well as participants living closer to Maternal Health Centers (MHCs): ARI (r=0.185, p&amp;lt;0.002) and diarrhea (r=0.223, p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to those living near primary facilities. Our random forest model showed distance to have high variable importance in the context of disease prevalence. Our results indicated that participants closer to more basic healthcare facilities reported a higher prevalence of both diarrhea and ARI than those near more urban facilities, highlighting potential public policy gaps in ameliorating rural health.


2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Wendy Wright ◽  
Xuan Zhu ◽  
Mateusz Okurowski

Toothed Leionema is one of four subspecies of Leionema bilobum from the Rutaceae family. A dense shrub or small tree, growing to ~4 m high, it is a poorly investigated species which is considered rare in Victoria, Australia. This paper presents the results of a study using Geographical Information Systems and Weights-of-Evidence predictive modelling to assess the importance of seven environmental factors in determining habitat suitability for this species in the Strzelecki Ranges, Victoria. This method is particularly useful in understanding the distribution of rare species, especially where the ecology of the species of interest is not well understood. Of the seven environmental factors considered here, four were found to be important: elevation, aspect, distance to water and distance to plantation (disturbed) areas. The modelling results indicate that areas with elevations between 350 and 550 m and a dominant south-western aspect that are close to plantation areas (within 700 m), and to water (within 1100–1200 m), provide potentially suitable habitat for Toothed Leionema in the region.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1234
Author(s):  
Viera Petlušová ◽  
Peter Petluš ◽  
Michal Ševčík ◽  
Juraj Hreško

The water erosion research was carried out in the lowland type of hilly landscape. The aim was to monitor and evaluate the importance of environmental factors (steepness of slope, relief shapes, aspect, slope length, combination slope length (L) and slope (S)—LS factor, types of land use changes) for the development of water erosion. We focused on the identification of areas threatened by erosion by interpreting aerial photographs from several time periods. This was followed by verification of erosion using soil probes. We identified 408.44 ha of areas affected by erosion, and measured the depth of soil and “A” horizons thickness. The environmental factors were modeled in geographical information systems by tools for spatially oriented data. Subsequently, the influence and significance of individual environmental factors were compared, and the probability of erosion was statistically estimated. The decisive factors in the formation of erosive surfaces are the LS factor and the slope. We also consider the factor of the relief shape to be important. The shape did not appear to be very significant as a separately evaluated factor, but all convex parts correlate with the identified erosion surfaces. The susceptibility of erosion related to the aspect of the slopes to the cardinal directions has not been confirmed. Types of land use changes with the most significant relation of erosion were confirmed in areas of strong intensification. We confirmed the importance of factors and land use for the development of erosion processes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Lamarche ◽  
Edward H. Owens

ABSTRACT An analysis of the work performed by the various teams involved in shoreline cleanup operations has been applied to the design of an approach for the integration of data collected by the SCAT process with electronic maps produced by geographical information system (GIS) technology. This has led to the implementation of a PC-based system that incorporates a database of SCAT information, a knowledge base on oil behavior and shoreline cleanup, and a GIS. The system provides support to data collection using the SCAT approach for field teams and to map-based data analysis for planners and managers. In the course of this work, a set of the maps that are considered the most useful for summarizing information about shoreline conditions was designed and evaluated. This evaluation initially involved consultation with individuals experienced in shoreline cleanup. The applicability of the map representation for decision making was further tested during spill drills. SCAT surveys generate a large volume of data that need to be captured and integrated. There is a risk that this large amount of information might overwhelm decision makers involved in the management of shoreline cleanup operations. The paper describes the various modifications that were made to the SHORECLEAN software package to provide some solutions to these problems. These include providing specialized SCAT data entry forms, automating the links between a SCAT database and a GIS, and producing map representations that provide clear, useful, and nonmisleading information for decision makers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 343 ◽  
pp. 09011
Author(s):  
Iulian Alexandru Bratu ◽  
Lucian Dincă

This study reflects the possibility of using the GIS technology for the management and resolution of conflicts between stakeholders in the management of protected natural areas that cover large surfaces, such as Natura 2000 sites. The research is accomplished in Frumoasa site from Cindrel Mountains, where a conflict of a legal nature was analysed, in the extinguishment of which the technology of geographical information systems was used. In this sense, the presence of the species and habitats that are found on the surface of the incriminated forest was analysed and the comparison with the list of species and habitats that was the basis for declaring the surface as a nature 2000 site. In the next stage, both the site management plan and the forest management plan were analysed in order to identify inconsistent potentials. Then, maps of the presence and distribution of species and habitats were made, with the protection and conservation measures adopted. Also, special attention was paid to the identification of primary and old-growth forest, their distribution and measures for their conservation. The conclusions include improvements can be made to the management of the incriminated areas, accompanied by the geo-database.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Ghatee ◽  
Koorosh Nikaein ◽  
Walter Robert Taylor ◽  
Mehdi Karamian ◽  
Hasan Alidadi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a worldwide zoonotic disease, is affected by various biological and environmental factors. We investigated dog/livestock populations, climatic and environmental factors influencing the distribution of human CE cases in Fars province, southwest Iran. Methods We mapped the addresses of 266 hospitalised CE patients (2004–2014) and studied the effects of different temperature models, mean annual rainfall and humidity, number of frosty days, slope, latitude, land covers, close proximity to nomads travel routes, livestock and dog densities on the occurrence of CE using geographical information systems approach. Data were analyzed by logistic regression. Results In the multivariate model predicting CE, living in an urban setting and densities of cattle and dogs were the most important CE predictors, sequentially. Dry (rained) farm, density of camel and sheep, close proximity to nomads travel routes, humidity, and slope also were considered as the determinants of CE distribution, when analyzed independently. Slope had a negative correlation with CE while temperature, frost days and latitude were not associated with CE. Conclusions In our study, an urban setting was the most important risk factor and likely due to a combination of the high density of key life cycle hosts, dogs and livestock, a large human susceptible population and the high number of abattoirs. Farmland and humidity were highly suggestive risk factors and these conditions support the increased survival of Echinococcus granulosus eggs in the soil. These findings support the development of strategies for control of disease. More research is needed test optimal interventions.


1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. McDonnell

Developments in geographical information systems (GIS) technology have coincided with moves within hydrology to a more explicit accounting of space through distributed rather than lumped or topological representations. GIS support these spatial data models and provide integrating, measuring and analytical capabilities which have been used in many hydrological applications ranging from inventory and assessment studies through to process modelling. The many examples in the article illustrate how the technology has supported moves away from averaged value representations for catchments towards a greater inclusion of spatial variations in hydrological studies. While the potential of these systems is gradually being realized, there are still various issues, both technical and methodological, which at present limit their use. As new data sources become available, GIS data structures become more flexible and open, and, as the understanding of scale variations in processes improves, the possibilities for using the technology in hydrological research will expand.


2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. 940-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. XU ◽  
C. X. CAO ◽  
D. C. WANG ◽  
B. KAN ◽  
Y. F. XU ◽  
...  

SUMMARYCholera is one of a number of infectious diseases that appears to be influenced by climate, geography and other natural environments. This study analysed the environmental factors of the spatial distribution of cholera in China. It shows that temperature, precipitation, elevation, and distance to the coastline have significant impact on the distribution of cholera. It also reveals the oceanic environmental factors associated with cholera in Zhejiang, which is a coastal province of China, using both remote sensing (RS) and geographical information systems (GIS). The analysis has validated the correlation between indirect satellite measurements of sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH) and ocean chlorophyll concentration (OCC) and the local number of cholera cases based on 8-year monthly data from 2001 to 2008. The results show the number of cholera cases has been strongly affected by the variables of SST, SSH and OCC. Utilizing this information, a cholera prediction model has been established based on the oceanic and climatic environmental factors. The model indicates that RS and GIS have great potential for designing an early warning system for cholera.


2021 ◽  
Vol 939 (1) ◽  
pp. 012027
Author(s):  
S Khodjaeva ◽  
M Musaev ◽  
Sh Akhmedov

Abstract In this current research, the combination of gas transportation system in line with analytical process was applied to conduct an assessment on the risk management of gas transferring pipe lines. By this process, classification and qualification of the numerous types of transportation risks would be accessible. Index and transportation index indicate risk probability and risk severity, respectively. In this regard, total risk is calculated based on the multiplication of all risk probability using geographical information systems (GIS) classified risks that have been throughout the pipeline route using attributive information. This information also gave database alternative monitoring of gas transportation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document