Title: Visualising the spatial distribution of diarrheal disease using the geographical information system: a WASH perspective

Authors: Reem Abu Shomar; Mahmood Abdelatif; Yaser Kishawi

Addresses: Program Coordination Unit-PWA, 00970597912917, Palestine ' Data Bank Unit-PWA, 00970599329683, Palestine ' Project Management Unit-PWA, 00970592413157, Palestine

Abstract: The main water resource in the Gaza Strip is facing a serious challenge in terms of quantity and quality posing significant health threats on Gaza population. According to the statistics, diarrhoea among children was reported and reached the alerting thresholds several times last years. The aim of the study is to visualise the spatial distribution of diarrhoea, based on an established geo-statistical database. The distribution of diarrheal disease at districts and municipal levels were presented and visualised. In addition, discussion and recommendations for improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for risk mitigation were included. The study served as a pilot for an integrated GIS-based water quality and public health monitoring program and showed that GIS can be a very helpful tool to visualise the prevalence of one of the water-borne diseases for better decision-making and proper WASH intervention.

Keywords: diarrhoea; geographical information systems; GIS; water quality; public health monitoring; WASH services; water services; sanitation services; hygiene services; Gaza Strip; visualisation spatial distribution; diarrheal disease; Palestine; water resources; health threats; health risks; risk mitigation; water-borne diseases.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2017.083421

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2017 Vol.16 No.1/2/3, pp.76 - 90

Received: 06 Aug 2016
Accepted: 03 Sep 2016

Published online: 29 Mar 2017 *

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