Rohan P Fisher1, Bronwyn A Myers. 1. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia. cycadmedia@bigpond.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the demonstrated utility of GIS for health applications, there are perceived problems in low resource settings: GIS software can be expensive and complex; input data are often of low quality. This study aimed to test the appropriateness of new, inexpensive and simple GIS tools in poorly resourced areas of a developing country. GIS applications were trialled in pilot studies based on mapping of health resources and health indicators at the clinic and district level in the predominantly rural province of Nusa Tenggara Timur in eastern Indonesia. The pilot applications were (i) rapid field collection of health infrastructure data using a GPS enabled PDA, (ii) mapping health indicator data using open source GIS software, and (iii) service availability mapping using a free modelling tool. RESULTS: Through contextualised training, district and clinic staff acquired skills in spatial analysis and visualisation and, six months after the pilot studies, they were using these skills for advocacy in the planning process, to inform the allocation of some health resources, and to evaluate some public health initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that GIS can be a useful and inexpensive tool for the decentralisation of health data analysis to low resource settings through the use of free and simple software, locally relevant training materials and by providing data collection tools to ensure data reliability.
BACKGROUND: Despite the demonstrated utility of GIS for health applications, there are perceived problems in low resource settings: GIS software can be expensive and complex; input data are often of low quality. This study aimed to test the appropriateness of new, inexpensive and simple GIS tools in poorly resourced areas of a developing country. GIS applications were trialled in pilot studies based on mapping of health resources and health indicators at the clinic and district level in the predominantly rural province of Nusa Tenggara Timur in eastern Indonesia. The pilot applications were (i) rapid field collection of health infrastructure data using a GPS enabled PDA, (ii) mapping health indicator data using open source GIS software, and (iii) service availability mapping using a free modelling tool. RESULTS: Through contextualised training, district and clinic staff acquired skills in spatial analysis and visualisation and, six months after the pilot studies, they were using these skills for advocacy in the planning process, to inform the allocation of some health resources, and to evaluate some public health initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that GIS can be a useful and inexpensive tool for the decentralisation of health data analysis to low resource settings through the use of free and simple software, locally relevant training materials and by providing data collection tools to ensure data reliability.
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Wilbert M Gesler; John S Preisser; Jill Sherman; John Spencer; Jamie Perin Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: David H Peters; Anu Garg; Gerry Bloom; Damian G Walker; William R Brieger; M Hafizur Rahman Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2007-10-22 Impact factor: 5.691
Authors: Bambang Parmanto; Maria V Paramita; Wayan Sugiantara; Gede Pramana; Matthew Scotch; Donald S Burke Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2008-06-11 Impact factor: 3.918
Authors: Jennifer Duncombe; Archie Clements; Wenbiao Hu; Philip Weinstein; Scott Ritchie; Fe Esperanza Espino Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Lauren N Carroll; Alan P Au; Landon Todd Detwiler; Tsung-Chieh Fu; Ian S Painter; Neil F Abernethy Journal: J Biomed Inform Date: 2014-04-16 Impact factor: 6.317
Authors: Steeve Ebener; Maria Guerra-Arias; James Campbell; Andrew J Tatem; Allisyn C Moran; Fiifi Amoako Johnson; Helga Fogstad; Karin Stenberg; Sarah Neal; Patricia Bailey; Reid Porter; Zoe Matthews Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2015-05-27 Impact factor: 3.918
Authors: Rein M G J Houben; Thomas P Van Boeckel; Venance Mwinuka; Peter Mzumara; Keith Branson; Catherine Linard; Frank Chimbwandira; Neil French; Judith R Glynn; Amelia C Crampin Journal: Int J Health Geogr Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 3.918