Big Data to Improve Public Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

The field of public health provides a multidisciplinary area of research, and new challenges in analytics and operations management are reshaping the strategic decision-making dynamics. Big data is an emerging and promising area of research that has great potential to transform public health. Developed countries are designing big data tools and analytic techniques and using them to provide leadership. In this respect, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) need to become more engaged in the big data ecosystem and to become more aware of how to use new analytical techniques. This chapter provides an overview of big data analytic techniques in public health and their potential to transform strategic public health management in LMICs. To achieve this goal, this chapter explains big data analytics and big data tools in public health and discusses development strategies for LMIC's big public data potential to ensure a better knowledge base for LMIC health policymakers.