Silva J Padmaka
Health Education Bureau, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Asia Pac J Public Health. 2016 Jan;28(1 Suppl):10S-16S. doi: 10.1177/1010539515611723. Epub 2015 Oct 21.
The burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and certain behavioral risk factors related to NCDs (unhealthy behaviors) are becoming more common. This survey aims to map out such common unhealthy behaviors among all men 35 to 50 years old in a Medical Officer of Health area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka using a geographical information system (GIS) and an interviewer administered questionnaire by visiting all households in the study area. Data were analyzed with ARC GIS and SPSS software. Geographical areas where men with unhealthy behaviors cluster together (clusters) were identified and visually and statistically related to locations of schools, places of religious worship, and factories in the area. It was revealed that clusters of unhealthy behaviors are mostly seen in areas with less population density. Smoking and alcohol are clustering in estate areas occupied by Tamils. This way GIS mapping could be used to identify and reduce the burden of NCDs by visualizing clusters and how certain locations affect their spread.
非传染性疾病(NCDs)的负担以及与非传染性疾病相关的某些行为风险因素(不健康行为)正变得越来越普遍。本次调查旨在通过地理信息系统(GIS)以及使用访谈员管理的问卷,走访斯里兰卡西部省一个卫生医疗官员辖区内所有35至50岁男性,以梳理出此类常见的不健康行为。研究区域内的所有家庭均被走访。数据采用ARC GIS和SPSS软件进行分析。确定了不健康行为男性聚集在一起的地理区域(集群),并在视觉上和统计上将其与该地区的学校、宗教场所和工厂的位置相关联。结果显示,不健康行为集群大多出现在人口密度较低的地区。吸烟和酗酒行为在泰米尔人居住的种植园地区聚集。通过这种方式,GIS绘图可用于识别和减轻非传染性疾病的负担,方法是可视化集群以及某些地点如何影响其传播。