Atlas Public Health Surveillance platform
About this good practice
The Atlas of Public Health Surveillance of Aragon tool responds to a need identified in the Aragon Health Plan 2030: provide geographically disaggregated health data (health determinants, morbidity, & mortality) to reduce health & social inequalities.
This online application enables analysis by small geographic areas, known as Basic Health Zones (ZBS), offering data on health determinants & outcomes to support public health decision-making.
This platform presents indicators disaggregated by sex, adjusted for age, & includes a deprivation index to evaluate inequalities by social class. This data enables citizens, health professionals, and policymakers to identify and address local needs effectively. By providing a detailed territorial perspective, the Atlas promotes evidence-based health management and supports the ‘health in all policies’ strategy.
Through thematic maps, the Atlas has facilitated targeted interventions in vulnerable ZBS, improving planning and execution of specific health promotion actions in areas with higher levels of deprivation via specific community care programmes as well as promoting at management level public health policies. It has become a vital resource for guiding actions aimed at reducing health disparities and improving population health outcomes in Aragón. In rural areas, this application focusses on service accessibility & distribution of healthcare resources. In urban areas, it analysis risk factors & inequalities related to the environment.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
Health information & research area staff of the Gen. Dir. of Public Health in collaboration with the Geographic Institute of Aragon (IGEAR). Data is retrieved from sources at regional & national level.
We have recently managed a minor contract to make improvements with an investment of €13,794.00.
Evidence of success
The Atlas application received the J.M. Mayoral Award in 2018 for its impact on public health surveillance, granted at the 36th Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology and the 13th Portuguese Congress of Epidemiology.
In 2024, it was highlighted by the WHO in the ‘Population Health Management’ conference and currently averages 8,562 monthly visits, solidifying its role as a key resource in guiding health promotion interventions in areas with higher levels of inequality.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Atlas platform is highly transferable to other regions, as its flexible structure allows for the inclusion of local indicators & adaptation to different territorial & social contexts.
Key success factors include continuous data updates, integration into interdepartmental-shared platforms, & its capacity to adapt across various areas, which facilitates implementation in diverse regions.
Moreover, the Atlas addresses inequality axes by presenting data disaggregated by sex (gender), adjusting certain indicators (REM and REMs) by age, and including a deprivation index that can be compared with the social class axis.
It is recommended to engage a multidisciplinary team, including specialists in public health, geography, and data analysis, and to collaborate with a local geographic institute to ensure territorial precision and high-quality thematic mapping.
With these adjustments, the Atlas platform could become a vital tool in health policy management for any region.
Further information
Atlas tool: Population health management: harnessing the power of data to strengthen primary care.
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