Browsing by Author "Swai, Aleswa Zebedayo"

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    The application of a geographical information system in the health services management to support evidence based planning and decision making. the case study of Kinondoni District
    (University of Dar es Salaam,, 2012) Swai, Aleswa Zebedayo
    Use of evidence in planning is essential for the rational management of health services. Funding for the health sector is an essential input, but alone, is not sufficient for positive change. Rather, ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic manner is vital. Several health systems are characterized by sub-optimal use of evidence to guide planning and decisions (Namibia, Uganda and Tanzania HIS Assessment reports, 2005, 2007). The reason for limited use of evidence in decision making is the fact that data are often not available in formats that allow easy interpretation. Geographical Information System (GIS) technology has shown the potential to support data exploration and easy interpretation (Pick 2005, Suresh 2004). This present case study at Kinondoni Municipal Council in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania aimed at exploring the level of use of GIS in public health at district level for planning and decision making. The goal is to propose a framework for GIS deployment and test its feasibility and potential upscaling. Data were collected along with a review of literature on various parameters of GIS. Key findings include; GIS and its application have not yet been integrated into health planning circles, however such an application already exist within the same council as demonstrated in tax administration and revenue collection. Workers had limited knowledge of GIS for health, although awareness of planning processes was high. The DHIS2 based GIS module needs to be improved rather than adapting other separate software application to support spatial analysis. A framework for the operation of GIS within the council has been proposed. However, additional work is required for effective mainstreaming of GIS services the district health planning mechanism.