Vulnerability interactive geographic viewer against COVID‐19 at the block level in Colombia: Analytical tool based on machine learning techniques

Abstract

To mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, different countries have developed computational tools and dashboards that allow generating value for decision-making in public health. We aimed to build an interactive geographic viewer for vulnerability to COVID-19 at the block level to identify the location of populations that because of sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions could have more complications from COVID-19 infections. The vulnerability levels of the different blocks of 1,102 municipal capitals were calculated. Additionally, the institutions that provide health services and hotels were georeferenced, and changes in people's mobility dynamics in large cities were identified.

The value of mathematical modelling approaches in epidemiology for public health decision making

“…(19) On the other hand, in an unprecedented action to join efforts in the history of the health sector in the country, it was possible to combine several databases to design a vulnerability interactive geographic viewer against COVID-19 (at the block level), in record time, and with a very robust technological infrastructure, Big Data techniques and high level data science. (20) This computational tool supported, among other things, informed decision-making for the allocation of cash transfers to the most vulnerable and pandemic-affected population, using realworld evidence.…”

El fortalecimiento de la Superintendencia Nacional de Salud (SUPERSALUD) es prioritario para garantizar el derecho fundamental a la salud.

“…Este tipo de aproximaciones de frontera del conocimiento en analítica en salud ya se han aplicado en Colombia. Tal es el caso de geovisor de vulnerabilidad a nivel de manzana (https://geoportal.dane.gov.co/visor-vulnerabilidad/), construido durante la pandemia, y en el que se aplicaron métodos de machine learning y big data para la toma decisiones por parte del gobierno, gobernaciones y alcaldías, entre otros organismos (18).…”

El encuentro entre la medicina y la matemática

“…Después de realizar la primera iteración, se calculan los promedios de los grupos y el proceso se repite hasta que los grupos se estabilizan. Un ejemplo local de este método es el geovisor de Covid-19 ejecutado por el IETS (6).…”