Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade

Background/Aim. Cervical cancer is still an important public health problem in Belgrade. The aim of this study was to explore spatial patterns of cervical cancer, provision and accessibility of women’s health service on the primary health care level in Belgrade, as well as the needs for improving ca...

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Main Authors: Pavlović Nevenka, Marković-Denić Ljiljana, Vojvodić Katarina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2020-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
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Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800095P.pdf
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author Pavlović Nevenka
Marković-Denić Ljiljana
Vojvodić Katarina
author_facet Pavlović Nevenka
Marković-Denić Ljiljana
Vojvodić Katarina
author_sort Pavlović Nevenka
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aim. Cervical cancer is still an important public health problem in Belgrade. The aim of this study was to explore spatial patterns of cervical cancer, provision and accessibility of women’s health service on the primary health care level in Belgrade, as well as the needs for improving cancer surveillance and preventive programs. Methods. This study applied a descriptive epidemiological method and a geographic information system based on data on cervical cancer diagnosed among female residents of Belgrade in 2006 and 2011. A map of the density of cases, with precise and complete data on the address of residence at the time of diagnosis, and a map of the distribution of gynecological practices in the primary health care in Belgrade, were generated through the process of georeferencing. Results. A total of 569 cases of cervical cancer were registered in 2006 and 2011, without significant differences. Significant associations were noticed for municipality of residence and year of diagnosis (χ2= 42.99, df = 16, p = 0.000), and year of diagnosis and age groups 30–34 (р = 0.038, f = 3.998, df = 11, ANOVA), 40–44 (р = 0.001, f = 7.545 df = 13, ANOVA) and 45–49 (р = 0.046, f = 2.679, df = 15, ANOVA). The process of georeferencing covered a total of 466 (81.8%) cases with 97.4% of all cases diagnosed in 2006 and 68.6% in 2011. The generated maps showed similar spatial patterns of cases for both years: a higher density of cases with addresses in central parts of urban and suburban municipalities, as well as in parts of densely populated areas of urban municipalities. There was no regularity of grouping found for the cases in relation to the provision of women’s health service, or of distance from the place of residence of cases to gynecological practices. Conclusion. Our results indicate possibilities for the perception of the spatial distribution of cervical cancer and needs for improving cancer surveillance and preventive programs on small geographical areas.
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spelling doaj-art-6c58ec69e9f34bb3847ecb694530dc6b2025-08-20T03:18:17ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202020-01-0177437338110.2298/VSP180412095P0042-84501800095PApplication of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in BelgradePavlović Nevenka0Marković-Denić Ljiljana1Vojvodić Katarina2Institute of Public Health of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Public Health of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaBackground/Aim. Cervical cancer is still an important public health problem in Belgrade. The aim of this study was to explore spatial patterns of cervical cancer, provision and accessibility of women’s health service on the primary health care level in Belgrade, as well as the needs for improving cancer surveillance and preventive programs. Methods. This study applied a descriptive epidemiological method and a geographic information system based on data on cervical cancer diagnosed among female residents of Belgrade in 2006 and 2011. A map of the density of cases, with precise and complete data on the address of residence at the time of diagnosis, and a map of the distribution of gynecological practices in the primary health care in Belgrade, were generated through the process of georeferencing. Results. A total of 569 cases of cervical cancer were registered in 2006 and 2011, without significant differences. Significant associations were noticed for municipality of residence and year of diagnosis (χ2= 42.99, df = 16, p = 0.000), and year of diagnosis and age groups 30–34 (р = 0.038, f = 3.998, df = 11, ANOVA), 40–44 (р = 0.001, f = 7.545 df = 13, ANOVA) and 45–49 (р = 0.046, f = 2.679, df = 15, ANOVA). The process of georeferencing covered a total of 466 (81.8%) cases with 97.4% of all cases diagnosed in 2006 and 68.6% in 2011. The generated maps showed similar spatial patterns of cases for both years: a higher density of cases with addresses in central parts of urban and suburban municipalities, as well as in parts of densely populated areas of urban municipalities. There was no regularity of grouping found for the cases in relation to the provision of women’s health service, or of distance from the place of residence of cases to gynecological practices. Conclusion. Our results indicate possibilities for the perception of the spatial distribution of cervical cancer and needs for improving cancer surveillance and preventive programs on small geographical areas.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800095P.pdfepidemiologic methodsgeographic information systemsprimary health careurban populationuterine cervical neoplasms
spellingShingle Pavlović Nevenka
Marković-Denić Ljiljana
Vojvodić Katarina
Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
epidemiologic methods
geographic information systems
primary health care
urban population
uterine cervical neoplasms
title Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
title_full Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
title_fullStr Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
title_full_unstemmed Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
title_short Application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in Belgrade
title_sort application of a geographic information system in the study of spatial aspects of cervical cancer incidence in belgrade
topic epidemiologic methods
geographic information systems
primary health care
urban population
uterine cervical neoplasms
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800095P.pdf
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AT vojvodickatarina applicationofageographicinformationsysteminthestudyofspatialaspectsofcervicalcancerincidenceinbelgrade