Introduction
Health sciences and geography as fields are relatively young and very popular for those who investigate the problem of global health development. Thus, this interdisciplinary approach based on the interconnection of the geography analytical methods and health sciences provides a fresh view on diseases spatial distribution, healthcare availability and the shaping role of geographical environment. This article reviews the multiple connections that can be seen between these two disciplines and the consequences of this the intersection of health sciences and geography reading answers for epidemiology, politics and research, public health.
Understanding the Basics
Health sciences can be described as a diverse field of branches that deal with evaluation and promotion of health, as well as understanding diseases. These include medicine, epidemiology, public health, and nutrition among others The following are some of the fields that fall under the study of applied sciences: Gis, on the other hand, is the branch of knowledge that deals with location and position of; things and the relation of human beings to the earth. It is defined as the study of spatial data especially in an effort to identify patterns that occur in various parts of the globe.
Health sciences and geography together form a potent combination to understand how various health parameters are determined, or influenced by the position that a person occupies, the surroundings that they are in and the socio-economic status that they might enjoy. This intersection makes it easier for researchers to be able to understand growth rates and history of diseases, effects of environmental conditions on health, and possible solutions to the problem of access to healthcare services in under served communities.
Spatial Epidemiology
This paper considers one of the major intersections between health sciences and geography, namely spatial epidemiology. Geographic epidemiology concerns itself with mapping of health events and the contribution of geography to them. Researchers can then strive to find correlations of different diseases and try to find out if there are certain areas or groups of people with higher incidences of infection and try to study factors in the physical environment and the social and economic structure which could have a bearing on such incidences.
For instance, geographic information systems (GIS) applies in mapping the occurrence of diseases including malaria, tuberculosis and the new age corona viruses with the current one being COVID-19. These maps help health workers to point the interventions, allocate resources and even prophesy where a disease may occur.
Environmental Health and Geography
Environmental health is yet another topic that have health sciences and geography integrated into it as a necessity. Geography enables one to investigate different aspects of the environment including, air and water, climatic changes and issues of urbanization as they affect health. This intersection is important to explain the transmissibility of vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue as these are greatly favouring environmental factors.
Also, geographic analysis helps in determination of the health risks resulting from exposure to the environment hazards like pollutions or natural disasters. Such information outlines the spatial distribution of these risks and helps public health workers to come up with ways of reducing the effects on the vulnerable groups.
Healthcare Access and Equity
Another determinant makes a huge part of the deciding factor regarding healthcare; this is the geographical location. Desert area: the study of geographical location of health facility and service can help to establish geographic region where people have difficulties or challenges accessing adequate health care referred to as a ‘medical desert. ’ Usually, it is a rural or low–income area.
It is through geography that the policymakers can be able to locate these areas of need and the ways through which the health care can be enhanced. This may entail providing additional bases for treatment, such as setting up hospitals, deploying portable clinics or offering telemedicine services to the doorsteps of those in the rural areas.
Implications for Policy and Research
The blend of health sciences and geography holds great importance in health sciences especially concentration on policies and research. The incorporation of geographic analysis into health research enables policy makers to allocate available resources and come up with intervention strategies as well as establish competent health structures. It also fosters cross disciplinary cooperation between the health sector, geographers and policy makers hence embracing a more complex view of the health problems.
Also, the incorporation of geographic data in health research provides new track for analysis of social determinants of health in society. One can explain the impact of income, education, and housing on population health needs, which should help researchers to create more precise approaches to improve the population’s health in different regions by reducing inequity.
Conclusion
The confluence of health sciences and geography is a useful paradigm for teaching and learning the many and diverse aspects of global health. Through the integration of geographical techniques with the medical practices of health science, researchers and policymakers are able to acquire new and valuable insights to the different issues affecting health. It helps in formation of strategies for implementation of specific interventions, elaboration of means for increasing acces to the intersection of health sciences and geography reading answers, and an overall betterment of the health of people across the globe. Thus, health sciences and geography as essential branches of knowledge will be essential in the interactions to define the farther prospect of the trends changing the scope of future public health at the global level.
