Geographical Information Systems Approach To Surveillance Of Buruli Ulcer And Access To Health Care In Ga District Of Ghana

Abstract

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been applied for health care planning and decision making on buruli ulcer disease in the Ga district of Ghana. The study involved surveillance and monitoring of the disease, and determination of geographical accessibility to health care services in the locality. Digital maps of features and attributes of points, lines and areas were used for the study. The results show association between the disea-se and some environmental factors. Accessibility to health care facilities determined by using linear data indica-ted locational efficiency of existing health care facilities. In order to improve accessibility, the choices and rationale for additional facilities are presented. A major outcome of the study is that the District Assemblies as basic units of local government, are ideal and manageable units for spatial data acquisition and processing, as the data requirements are less sophisticated.

Journal of Applied Science and Technology Vol. 12 (1&2) 2007: pp. 118-126