SCHS: Health and Spatial Analysis

Overview

The Health and Spatial Analysis Branch uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other software to describe and analyze the spatial and temporal relationships that exist among diseases, mortality, births, environments and population characteristics within a public health context. The Health and Spatial Analysis Branch provides content for the SCHS Health Atlas. In addition, the Branch also provides GIS support for other Divisions in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Services

• Responds to map requests from state and local public health agencies, organizations, universities and the public.
• Supports SCHS research and publications with providing maps and other graphics.
• Provides GIS and spatial analysis expertise to other state and local agencies and programs on long-term projects. Some examples include Central Cancer Registry, HIV/STD, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology and Women's and Children's Health.
• Provide GIS technical support to other DHHS Divisions.

The following publication describes the concepts used in mapping morbidity and mortality rates and basics in interpreting these maps:

• Statistical Primer 15 - Mapping Mortality and Morbidity Rates (PDF, 373 KB)

Selected resources are in PDF format to make reading and printing easier. You may need to download the free software Adobe Reader to access them.

• Health and Spatial Analysis Branch
• North Carolina Health Atlas
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Maps
  • Cancer Incidence and Mortality Maps
  • Communicable Disease Maps
  • Life Expectancy Maps
  • Unintentional Poisoning Mortality Rates Maps
  • Vital Statistics Maps

Last Modified: September 5, 2025