Experiences, benefits and challenges of the use of geoprocessing for the development of primary health care

Abstract

Objective. To review the empirical results of the use of geoprocessing in the management of primary health care (PHC) services, and to disseminate the benefits of this technology and analyze the challenges that must be overcome in order for geoprocressing to contribute to the development of PHC. Methods. A systematic review of primary studies published in Spanish, English or Portuguese between 2000 and 2017 was carried out. First, a review of the academic production was conducted, by continent and type of objective. In a second stage, the studies that experimented with and evaluated the use of geoprocessing in empirical form were selected. Specific and generic benefits, as well as limitations, were reviewed. Results. 134 articles were identified in the first stage of selection, half of them from the Region of the Americas. Only nine studies met the criteria and were reviewed in the second stage. These studies showed that the use of geoprocessing generates benefits that go beyond the technical benefits, with limitations that can be overcome. Conclusions. Although the benefits of using geoprocessing have been widely discussed, few studies have empirically evaluated its implementation in PHC. Practical experiences, which could easily be reproduced in different communities, show that its continued use could increase the capacity to respond to the goals of PHC, as well as to the goals of sustainable development.