Assessment of municipal infrastructure related to population health and lifestyle in the Tula region: results of the «Health Map» project

Objective. To present the results of the first pilot project in Russia, «Health Map», to create a system for monitoring municipal infrastructure related to the lifestyle and health of the Tula region population. Materials and methods. The infrastructure was assessed using the digital platform, which enabled real-time data collection and its visualization on interactive municipal maps. Facilities related to nutrition (sales points for fresh vegetables and fruits and fast food), physical activity (sports facilities), and the sale of tobacco and alcohol, etc., were analyzed. The following methods were used: categorical analysis of facilities by municipality, construction of heat maps of the facilities’ distribution density (per 10.000 population), and rating of municipalities’ territories according to criteria for a health-saving environment. Statistical processing was performed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, USA). Results. The highest positions in the ranking were taken by municipalities (n=14) with a developed network of sales points of fresh vegetables and fruits, high availability of facilities for physical activity and sports, and limited availability of facilities selling tobacco, alcohol, and fast food. Municipalities with low scores (n=2) need priority attention from the authorities to develop health-saving infrastructure and limit the availability of facilities that negatively affect health. Conclusion. The «Health Map» project is a strategically important public health initiative in the Tula region. The project’s implementation provides a comprehensive assessment of the infrastructure and lays the foundation for targeted decision-making, the development of a monitoring system, and the implementation of preventive programs.