Mohammad Ali|Jin Kyung Park|Vu Dinh Thiem|Do Gia Canh|Michael Emch|John D. Clemens
Neighborhood size and local geographic variation of health and social determinants
International Vaccine Institute|International Vaccine Institute|National Institute Of Hygiene And Epidemiology|National Institute Of Hygiene And Epidemiology|Robert Wood Johnson Foundation|International Vaccine Institute
abstract background spatial filtering using geographic information system gis often used smooth health ecological data smoothing disease data help us understand local neighborhood geographic variation ecological risk diseases analyses use small neighborhood sizes yield individualistic patterns large sizes reveal global structure data local variation obscured therefore choosing optimal neighborhood size important understanding ecological associations diseases paper uses hartleys test homogeneity variance f max methodological solution selecting optimal neighborhood sizes data study area vietnam used test suitability method results hartleys f max test applied spatial variables two enteric diseases two socioeconomic determinants various neighbourhood sizes tested using two step process implement f max test first variance neighborhood compared highest neighborhood variance upper f max1 compared lowest neighborhood variance lower f max2 significant value f max1 indicates neighborhood reveal global structure data contrast significant value f max2 implies neighborhood data individualistic neighborhoods lower upper limits optimal neighbourhood sizes conclusion results tests provide different neighbourhood sizes different variables suggesting optimal neighbourhood size data dependent ecology well known observation scales may influence ecological inference therefore selecting optimal neigborhood size essential understanding disease ecologies optimal neighbourhood selection method tested paper useful health ecological studies