Geographic Information System as a Tool of Public Health Monitoring in Rospotrebnadzor and Health Care Structures Given the Example of Sanitary and Hygienic Surveillance of Water Resources: Analytical Review

Abstract

Background: Challenges of using geographic information systems (GIS) in public health monitoring are considered. Objective: To review scientific literature on application of geographic information systems as a tool of public health monitoring used to control the sanitary and epidemiological state of the environment, including water bodies, and of health care. Methods: We studied the conceptual apparatus of a geographic information system, analyzed publications describing the use of this tool in the sanitary and hygienic surveillance of water bodies and the prospects for the development and improvement of this system. We examined topical papers published in 2008–2022 and found in searchable electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, eLIBRARY, and ResearchGate) using the following keywords: geographic information system (GIS), sanitary and epidemiological control, public health, water. Of 154 initially identified sources, we selected 53 publications on the experience of using geographic information systems by ministries, federal executive bodies, scientific and higher educational institutions, and also analyzed seven regulatory documents, directly or indirectly regulating the work of geographic information systems. Results and discussion: This review considers the possibility of using a geographic information system as a model for coordinating the activities of local and regional state sanitary and epidemiological surveillance on priority issues related to public health protection. The geographic information system in this case is considered as a single coordination center that ensures accumulation, analysis and visualization of sanitary and epidemiological information on biological contamination of water bodies. Along with the importance and application of GIS, part of the review is devoted to examples of implementation and shortcomings of existing tools, emphasizing the necessity to create a new “unified” software product able to provide “effective” consolidation of information on the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the use of water resources. Conclusion: A geographic information system is not only an effective tool for storing, systematizing and analyzing incoming information on biological contamination of water bodies, but also one of the modern techniques solving such a practical problem as the feasibility of sanitary and hygienic monitoring of water quality and health protection in the population using this water source.