Abstract The process of geocoding, particularly the street address matching process, is a commonly used technique to obtain locational information for public health research. In health care accessibility research, geocoded locations of health care providers are an essential element for measuring potential access to health care. Our objective is to compare the geocoding match rates and positional variation of two geocoding procedures by using street network and postal code datasets to geocode primary health care services in 14 cities. The first procedure uses a manually built geocoding service using DMTI Spatial (DMTI) reference datasets while the second employs an online geocoding service provided as a built‐in tool in ArcGIS, with ESRI Tele Atlas reference datasets. Results for Tele Atlas postal code and DMTI multiple enhanced postal codes (MEP) reference datasets produce much higher match rates (99.4%; 98.0% respectively) than street reference datsasets; while results of Tele Atlas street dataset produce better match rates (96.5%) than the DMTI street dataset (90.0%). Geocoding methods using Tele Atlas and DMTI Street datasets produce more accurate locations than postal code and MEP reference datasets. Empirical comparison of the geocoding results based on manually built and online geocoding services highlight the need for integrated geocoding procedures for increasing match rates with reduced positional uncertainty.
Abstract Background: This research investigates the distribution of optometrists in Canada relative to population health needs and self-reported use of vision care services. Methods: Optometrist locations were gathered from provincial regulatory bodies. A geocoding approach converted descriptive data into geographic coordinates. Utilizationof vision care services was extracted from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2013-2014 question regarding self-reported contacts with optometrists or ophthalmologistsproviders. Data from the 2016 Statistics Canada census were used to create three population ‘need’ subgroups (65 years and over; low-income; and people aged 15 and over with less than a high school diploma). Optometrist-to-population ratios, expressed as number of providers per 10,000 people at the health region level, were then calculated.Three classes: low (< -1.5 standard deviation (SD); -1.5 to -0.50 SD), moderate (-0.5 to 0.5 SD), and high (0.50 to 1.5 SD, > 1.5 SD) were used as a cut-off for demonstrating distributionof optometrists across health regions). Cross-classification mapping compared optometrist distribution to self-reported use of vision care services in relation to need. Results: A total of 5,959 optometrists working across ten Canadian provinces were included in this analysis. The nationwide distribution of optometrists is variable across Canada and they are predominantly concentrated in urban areas. The mean ratio of optometrists across Canada was 1.70 optometrists per 10,000 people (range = 0.13 to 2.92). Out of 109 health regions (HRs), 26 were classified as low ratios, 51 HRs were classified as moderate ratios, and 32 HRs were high ratios. Thirty-five HRs were classified as low utilization, 39 HRs were classified as moderate, and 32 HRs as high utilization. HRs with a low optometrist ratio relative to eye care utilization and a high proportion of key sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. older age, low income) are located throughout Canada and identified with maps indicating areas of likely greater need for optometry services. Conclusion: This research provides a nationwide overview of vision care provided by optometrists identifying gaps in geographic availabilityrelative to “supply” and “need” factors. This examination of variation in accessibility to optometric services will be useful to inform workforce planning and policies.
Child labor remains a predominant issue in Pakistan despite the country’s existing policies and frameworks aimed at abolishing it. Through this study, we investigated the child labor distribution across Sindh and examined the factors that shape the regional patterns. We analyzed the data available through the 2018–19 Sindh Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, MICS 6, from 20,030 households with 40,633 children in the 5–17 age bracket. By applying prevalence statistics, chi-square tests, and regression modeling to these data, we investigated the trends in child labor prevalence, identified the correlation between child labor and various socioeconomic and geodemographic variables, and finally mapped the geospatial patterns of child labor across districts in Sindh, enabling us to identify and prioritize the districts in need of immediate intervention. The findings revealed that about 20 percent of the children in Sindh are engaged in child labor, with a high prevalence among males and in the 15–17 age bracket. Moreover, poverty and rural dwellings raise this issue. Other socioeconomic and geographic factors reinforcing this issue are a lack of education among children, mothers, or caretakers and mothers’ or caretakers’ functional difficulties. However, children’s functional difficulties lower their prevalence in labor. Among the 29 districts across Sindh, Kambar Shahdadkot has the highest prevalence of child labor.
As children's lifestyles have become increasingly sedentary, active school travel can be a relatively accessible way to increase their daily physical activity. In recent years, several different models of interventions have been utilized to promote children participating in active school travel. This review documents and analyzes the different active school travel intervention methodologies that have been used in North America (Canada or U.S.) by collecting, organizing, and evaluating data relating to all phases of active school travel interventions.This systematic review developed a key word search and applied it in six databases (BIOSIS Previews, GeoBase, PubMed, SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science) to gather scholarly literature. A total of 22 studies evaluating children's active school travel interventions in a North American setting (four Canada, 18 U.S.) were identified for the period between January 2010 and March 2017.Applying the Safe Routes to School Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, Equity, and Evaluation ("6 E's") framework, interventions were thematically assessed for their structure and organization, approaches and methods, and outcomes and discussions. Encouragement and education were the most commonly observed themes within the different methodologies of the studies reviewed. Details relating to intervention approaches and methods were common; whereas data relating to intervention structure and organization received much less attention.Kingdon's multiple streams approach was applied to frame the findings for program facilitators and evaluators. Within the multiple streams approach, several considerations are offered to address and potentially improve active school travel intervention conceptualization, partnerships, organization, and evaluation.
High levels of survey nonresponse potentially produce unreliable data due to the often indeterminable possibility of such data being subject to nonresponse bias. In this paper, spatial patterns of global nonresponse rate are analyzed in order to identify whether systemic bias exists across urban spaces with regard to survey nonresponse. Forward stepwise regression is used in combination with spatial regression analysis to build models enabling the prediction of global nonresponse rates in the voluntary 2011 National Household Survey based on explanatory employment, housing, income, and other variables within 11 Canadian cities. The modelling process underscores the inequity of global nonresponse rates; places with high unemployment, high rates of rental properties, a higher proportion of Aboriginal residents, and lower educational attainment have lower compliance with the voluntary survey. Such a pattern has the potential to dramatically influence the ability of government, non‐governmental organizations, and other service providers to address the needs of residents of such urban areas.
Purpose: People living in rural and remote regions need support to overcome difficulties in accessing health care. The objectives of the study were (1) to compare demographic characteristics, professional engagement indicators, and clinical characteristics between physiotherapists practising in rural settings and those practising in urban settings and (2) to map the distribution of physiotherapists in Saskatchewan. Method: This cross-sectional study used de-identified data collected from the 2013 Saskatchewan College of Physical Therapists membership renewal (n=643), linked with the Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association's (SPA) 2012 membership list and a list of physiotherapists who had served as clinical instructors. Employment location (rural vs. urban) was determined by postal code. Results: Only 11.2% of Saskatchewan physiotherapists listed a rural primary employment location, and a higher density of physiotherapists per 10,000 people work in health regions with large urban centres. Compared with urban physiotherapists, rural physiotherapists are more likely to provide direct patient care, to provide care to people of all ages, and to have a mixed client level, and they are less likely to be SPA members. Conclusions: Rural and urban physiotherapists in Saskatchewan have different practice and professional characteristics. This information may have implications for health human resource recruitment and retention policies as well as advocacy for equitable access to physiotherapy care in rural and remote regions.
Urban parks and open spaces offer a unique setting that can play a vital role in improving health and quality of life in cities and towns, making cities more attractive places to live and work, and connecting residents to nature. Degradation of park facilities caused by natural processes or recreational activities requires continuous monitoring for efficient maintenance and management. Identification and continuous monitoring of areas prone to natural hazards such as landslides within an urban park are particularly important for public safety. Traditional techniques for identification and monitoring of such areas involving field surveys, being costly and time-consuming, cannot be used on a regular basis. This research explored the integrated use of aerial photographs and point cloud LiDAR data for identification of areas prone to landslide and soil erosion zones in an urban park and a conservation area known as Wakamow Valley, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. This study used the point cloud LiDAR of 2014 to develop a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the area. The accuracy of the DEM was validated through a series of well-distributed ground control points collected through a survey grade handheld GPS device. The areas prone to potential landslides and soil erosion were identified using slope analysis techniques. A typical criterion of areas having a slope greater than 35° was used for classification of potential hazardous zones. Geospatial information including land-cover, land-use, and trail system was extracted from a 2014 aerial photograph to create a base map. It has been estimated that 5.3 km along the banks of the Moose Jaw River and 8 km along the cliff of the canyon-shaped Wakamow Valley are under a possible threat of soil erosion and landslides. This portion of the valley was classified as high-risk for possible landslides and soil erosion.
