Implementation of the “health” concept in medico-geographical atlas mapping

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-50-68

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Svetlana M. Malkhazova

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography,
1, Leninskie Gory, 119991, Moscow, Russia,
E-mail: sveta_geo@mail.ru

Tatiana V. Kotova

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography,
1, Leninskie Gory, 119991, Moscow, Russia,
E-mail: tatianav.kotova@yandex.ru

Dmitry S. Orlov

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography,
1, Leninskie Gory, 119991, Moscow, Russia,
E-mail: orlovds@list.ru

Abstract

The concept of “health” is a multidimensional phenomenon that reflects the idea of the physical and mental state of the body. In relation to the population of a country, region, or a certain administrative territory, the concept of “health” is interpreted as “public health”. Public health is a characteristic of one of the most important properties of society as a social organism. It is closely related to economic and social development, demographic structure, morbidity, the state of the environment, as well as the country’s public health management system. Public health is a characteristic of one of the most important properties of society as a social organism. It is closely related to economic and social development, demographic structure, morbidity, environmental conditions, and the country’s public health management system. With many definitions of this concept, the following are noted: 1) public health is a multidimensional dynamic state of society, a resource for productive life; 2) public health has many aspects and is conditioned by many factors, which requires an integrated approach for its study and decision-making; 3) elements of public health always have a certain regional specificity; 4) the absence of clearly developed generally accepted indicators and criteria for public health. A special place in the information support for solving health problems, taking into account the characteristics of the object of mapping, is given to complex atlases, primarily those created on the basis of health concepts. Using some domestic and foreign atlas works as an example, the features of mapping the public health of the population are considered. A preliminary draft of the medico-geographical atlas “Health of the Population of Russia” was presented. The concept of the atlas is based on new approaches in medical geography “from the geography of diseases to the geography of health”, on the idea of identifying and displaying conditions and factors that contribute to improving the level of public health in the country, demonstrating positive indicators of vital activity (longest life expectancy, number of centenarians, lowest morbidity, mortality, disability, etc.). The atlas is planned to have six sections: 1. “Introductory”, 2. “Medical and Demographic Situation” (subsections 2a. “Demographic Indicators”, 2b. “Population Morbidity”), 3. “Habitat and Risk Factors” (3a. “Natural and Health-Improving Potential of the Environment”, 3b. “Risk Factors”), 4. “Socioeconomic Conditions and Lifestyle” (4a. “Social Environment”, 4b. “Lifestyle”, 4c. “Lifestyle Risk Factors”), 5. “Health Care”, 6. “Assessment and Trends in Improving Population Health”. Specialist geographers from regions of Russia are involved in the preparation of the Atlas. Their participation should help to more fully reveal various aspects of public health. This is also facilitated by the development of a new atlas in a series of previously created medico-geographical atlases of Russia.

Keywords

public health, health atlases, medico-geographical atlas “Health of the population of Russia”

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For citation: Malkhazova S.M., Kotova T.V., Orlov D.S. Implementation of the “health” concept in medico-geographical atlas mapping. InterCarto. InterGIS. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2025. V. 31. Part 1. P. 50–68. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-50-68 (in Russian)