GIS-based spatial analysis: basic sanitation services in Parana State, Southern Brazil.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Basic sanitation is crucial for public health and environmental quality.
• Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of sanitation services is vital for targeted interventions.
• Parana, Brazil, presents a case study for analyzing regional disparities in sanitation infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the geographic distribution of basic sanitation services in Parana, Brazil.
• To analyze temporal trends and spatial patterns of water supply, waste collection, and sanitary sewage.
• To identify clusters and hotspots of sanitation service provision and vulnerability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2000, 2010, and 2016 household data on water supply, waste collection, and sanitary sewage.
• Employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for time-series mapping and visualization.
• Applied spatial statistics including Moran's Global Index (Moran's I), Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and Getis-Ord Gi*(d) to assess spatial autocorrelation and identify clusters.

Main Results:

• Sanitary sewage service rates were significantly lower than water supply and waste collection.
• Waste collection exhibited the highest service rate and the most substantial increase during the study period, followed by water supply.
• Spatial analysis revealed distinct clusters: low-service areas (cold spots) concentrated in southern and west-central regions, while high-service areas (hot spots) were found in northern and northeastern regions.

Conclusions:

• Significant spatial inequalities in basic sanitation services exist within Parana.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address low service rates, particularly for sanitary sewage, in identified vulnerable regions.
• The study highlights the effectiveness of GIS and spatial statistics in monitoring and understanding sanitation service distribution.