Establishment of GIS tool for visualization of immunization data in Tanzania: a case study of Bagamoyo district in Pwani region.

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, analyzing and visualizing spatial data in integration with other attributes. The linking of the attribute data to the environment in which data are collected was minimal, resulting into limitations on addressing the spatial dimension. The question is whether or not the decision makers are empowered to make well-informed decisions using GIS tool for visualization of immunization data in improving health care system using accurate health and spatial information. In this study with a focus on comparing GIS tools by using data visualization capability, data were collected using interviews, document analysis and to a lesser extent observations from the health workers at district hospital and health facilities. Findings indicated that of the GIS tools compared: that is DHIS2, EpiInfo and OpenJUMP, there was no system that was able to match all GIS functionalities for data visualization as the ArcGIS have. The DHIS2 tool generally was easier to use in producing map views compared to EpiInfo and OpenJUMP in terms GIS Data analysis. Also data visualization is not merely on how to visualize the data, but also on how one can easily make meaning out of the complex data visualized for decision making.