Anwesha Mahanta
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the global health system and caused havoc worldwide. Since there is no proper medication, non-pharmaceutical intervention methods are followed to mitigate viral transmission. For its proper implementation, it is crucial to track the spatial pattern of transmission ...
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered the global health system and caused havoc worldwide. Since there is no proper medication, non-pharmaceutical intervention methods are followed to mitigate viral transmission. For its proper implementation, it is crucial to track the spatial pattern of transmission and target those areas which require immediate action to control the spread of the pandemic. The geospatial technologies have established themselves as powerful tools that have substantial ability to track outbreak patterns in real-time, identify at-risk populations, and plan targeted intervention.
Methods: The study provides a robust methodological framework with three geospatial tools: Spatial Autocorrelation (Global Moran's I), Hot Spot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*), and Space-time scan statistic. The quantitative study was carried out exclusively for North-East India to track the COVID-19 outbreaks from April 2020 to December 2020.
Results: The results obtained indicate a gradual change of spatial distribution of the disease from cluster to random distribution at the global scale. But, eventually, the COVID-19 cases tend to form clusters again. Kamrup Metro, the district with the highest urban population, was reported constantly as a hotspot. Moreover, space-time clusters tend to expand in size over time.
Conclusion: The research study's findings provide an overview of the spatio-temporal pattern of COVID-19 in the study area and help the health officials and policy-makers in formulating effective management strategies and non-pharmaceutical intervention measures by targeting the high-risk areas. The study is a valuable guide towards implementing Geographic Information Science technologies in monitoring and tracking the pandemic.
Masumeh Khosravi; Masoud Karimi; Elham Bagherinezhad
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, the ability to understand and interpret statistical data is the basis for any decision in all societies. In the health system, people who play a role in the information system cycle could have a significant impact on decision makers in health organizations and communities. This ...
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Background: Nowadays, the ability to understand and interpret statistical data is the basis for any decision in all societies. In the health system, people who play a role in the information system cycle could have a significant impact on decision makers in health organizations and communities. This study was conducted to investigate the statistical literacy of the HIS managers and workers as an educational need assessment in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Methods: In this cross-sectional study, statistical literacy of 89 statistics officials and statisticians working in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services was investigated via a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed based on the basic scientific requirements of the study group and educational programs held during the past two years and inspiration from the two questionnaires developed by Watson (Watson, 2003) and Shield (Shield, 2002). Results: The mean score of the respondents (19.7) was slightly higher than half (19) of the total score. 50% of the participants obtained a score of 19 and lower. Only 25% of the participants answered about two-thirds of the questions correctly. The statistical literacy of the participants about the measures of central tendency and using tables and charts was less than the areas of the probability and statistical inference. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for designing more effective in-service training sessions and workshops for HIS workers, paying more attention to the quality of the reported health statistical data, and employing HIS workers by the health system administrators.
