The application of GIS technology to equitably distribute fieldworker workload in a large, rural South African health survey.
A method is presented that has numerous applications to health systems provision in developing countries where limited physical access to primary health care is a major factor contributing to the poor health of populations. An accessibility model within a geographical information system (GIS) is used to predict average inter-homestead walking times and subdivide the study area into units of equal completion time. The method could be used to ergonomically design home-based care and tuberculosis directly observed treatment programmes and inform the siting of health facilities. The paper highlights the use of GIS technology as a powerful tool in developing countries.
Tanser
F C
FC
Africa Centre for Population Studies and Reproductive Health, Mtubatuba, South Africa. tanserf@mrc.ac.za
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D011320:Primary Health Care; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D017215:Satellite Communications; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology