Geography, GIS and AIDSGeography, GIS and AIDS

The Influence of Spatial Structure The Influence of Spatial Structure on Disease Transmission, on Disease Transmission, Prevalence and TreatmentPrevalence and Treatment

History of Geography and AIDS History of Geography and AIDS

• Peter Gould – Spatial Diffusion Theory and AIDS

• The Slow Plague criticized traditional epidemiology for ignoring the spatial dimensions of aids

• In part due to it’s popular writing style, it’s overtly political stance and it’s “geographic elitism” Gould’s work was received with mixed reviews.

Preface: Why a geographer writes about AIDS.Acknowledgements: Intellectual Antennae.Prologue: New Plagues for Old: The Horseman Rides Again.1. The Killer: HIV and What it does.2. The Origins of HIV: Closing an Open Question?3. The Thin Tendrils of Effects.4. Sex on a Set: A Backcloth for Disaster.5. Transmission Break: The Geography of the Condom.6. How Things Spread: Hierarchical Jumps and Geographic Oozings.7. Africa: A Continent in Catastrophe.8. Thailand: How to Optimize an Epidemic.9. America: Leaks in the System.10. The Bronx: Poverty, Crack and HIV.11. The Response: How Many Bureaucrats can Dance on the Head of a Pin?12. Time but no Space: the Failure of a Paradigm.13. The Geography in Confidentiality.14. Education and Planning: Predicting the Next Maps.15. Herd Immunity: Riding the Coattails of the HIV.16. Epilogue: Old Plagues for New.AIDS: A Bibliographic Essay.Index.

Beyond spatial epidemiologyBeyond spatial epidemiology

• The spatial epidemiology of AIDS is still important however, other uses of spatial data within HIV/AIDS research are emerging

• Accessibility of AIDS related treatment and services

• Contextual factors associated with treatment adherence

• Stigma related geographies

What is GISc?What is GISc?

• Geographic Information Science = theory• Geographic Information Systems = tool• Geographic data comes in many forms and often

requires tedious conversion with specialized software tools

• Geographic theory drives the analytical process, including geostatistics

Types of Geographic Data Types of Geographic Data

• Two main types – Raster and Vector • Raster is pixel based (cells, resolution)• Vector is Cartesian Coordinate based (x-y

points, lines, lengths, polygons, areas, perimeters.

• GIS systems integrate the two types and store data and information as “geographic features” referenced to real world coordinate systems.

Current Spatial AIDS research Current Spatial AIDS research at Drewat Drew

• Geographic disparities in AIDS mortality rates (Robinson)

• HIV testing center locations and risky sexual behavior (Taylor)

• Spatial reach of AIDS interventions (Kim)

ConclusionConclusion

• Although there has been history of interaction, in general the integration of geographic theory and methods within AIDS research has remained minimal.

• The importance of this integration is clear to funding agencies, and there are many research opportunities available, especially for collaborations with clear interdisciplinary contributions.