Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Nutrition Programs

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To outline the efficacy of geographic information technology for management and planning of nutrition programs. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides a user-friendly way to analyze geographic relationships and correlations. These automated mapping and spatial database analysis systems provide managers with tools for organizing information in ways that can help enhance services, reduce costs and improve the decision making process. While GIS is widely used for commercial, defense and business purposes, application of GIS in human service programs is relatively new. GIS has wide application for service delivery, planning, resource allocation and targeting of services. The WIC State Agency formulated a GIS project in 1995 to assist WIC staff in identifying unmet needs and service gaps. The data base includes WIC, Census, and vital record data. The WIC GIS allows staff to display the location of individual clients, vendors, markets, etc., in a spatial framework. Staff can query databases and develop thermal maps displaying selected clients' and population profiles. For example, the systems allows WIC nutritionist to display the geographic location of all breastfeeding women. Pooling of large numbers of breastfeeding women in one geographic area may be the result of education and promotion programs in that community or suggest that further study is needed to ascertain reasons for the higher rates. The WIC GIS System has proven effective for caseload management and outreach, as well as spatial analysis of nutrition problems and trends. Use of the system has expanded our understanding of the capability of the GIS for program planning and management. GIS is a effective tool for collecting, assembling and extracting program data in a way that is easily understood. The system can also help to improve and expand consumer services.