Leveraging Digital Technologies for Public Health Education in High-Density Community Spaces: A Geospatial Analysis

Public health education (PHE) plays a crucial role in mitigating the impact of public health crises, particularly in the context of high-density and aging populations. This study aims to address the challenges posed by these demographic trends in community public service spaces (CPSSs) by integrating geospatial and population data. Using bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis, this research investigates the relationship between PHE and social determinants of health across 40 CPSSs in Macao. Additionally, it highlights the underutilization of digital technologies (DTs) in PHE. A non-participatory, short-term field survey and observational study were conducted to analyze PHE data quantitatively and descriptively in Macao’s CPSSs. Moran’s I and LISA index were used to test spatial autocorrelation at 90% and 99% confidence levels. The results revealed significant positive spatial correlations between the distribution of community public service institutions (CPSIs) and the population in southern Macao, as well as between the elderly population and PHE themes and formats. PHE topics predominantly focus on health/fitness, geriatrics, chronic diseases, and mental health. Despite this, PHE remains heavily reliant on offline formats, with limited integration of DTs. Challenges such as low digital literacy and limited acceptance of DTs among community workers and the public hinder their broader adoption. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing the allocation of health education resources in densely populated and aging urban areas, offering both practical recommendations and theoretical support for health policy making and implementation.