A machine learning approach to small area estimation: predicting the health, housing and well-being of the population of Netherlands.

Journal: International journal of health geographics
PMID:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Local policymakers require information about public health, housing and well-being at small geographical areas. A municipality can for example use this information to organize targeted activities with the aim of improving the well-being of their residents. Surveys are often used to gather data, but many neighborhoods can have only few or even zero respondents. In that case, estimating the status of the local population directly from survey responses is prone to be unreliable.

Authors

  • Markus Viljanen
    National Institute for Public Health and the Environment - RIVM, PO Box 1, 3720BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands. markus.viljanen@rivm.nl.
  • Lotta Meijerink
    National Institute for Public Health and the Environment - RIVM, PO Box 1, 3720BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
  • Laurens Zwakhals
    National Institute for Public Health and the Environment - RIVM, PO Box 1, 3720BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
  • Jan van de Kassteele
    National Institute for Public Health and the Environment - RIVM, PO Box 1, 3720BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands.