Abstract
The effective use of geospatial data and technologies to collect, manage, analyze, model, and visualize geographic data has great potential to improve data-driven decision-making for immunization programs. This article presents a theory of change for the use of geospatial technologies for immunization programming—a framework to illustrate the ways in which geospatial data and technologies can contribute to improved immunization outcomes and have a positive impact on childhood immunization coverage rates in low- and middle-income countries. The theory of change is the result of a review of the state of the evidence and literature; consultation with implementers, donors, and immunization and geospatial technology experts; and a review of country-level implementation experiences. The framework illustrates how the effective use of geospatial data and technologies can help immunization programs realize improvements in the number of children immunized by producing reliable estimates of target populations, identifying chronically missed settlements and locations with the highest number of zero-dose and under-immunized children, and guiding immunization managers with solutions to optimize resource distribution and location of health services. Through these direct effects on service delivery, geospatial data and technologies can contribute to the strengthening of the overall health system with equity in immunization coverage. Recent implementation of integrated geospatial data and technologies for the immunization program in Myanmar demonstrate the process that countries may experience on the path to achieving lasting systematic improvements. The theory of change presented here may serve as a guide for country program managers, implementers, donors, and other stakeholders to better understand how geospatial tools can support immunization programs and facilitate integrated service planning and equitable delivery through the unifying role of geography and geospatial data.
Highlights
Maps are powerful tools for public health decision-makers to better understand the relationship between the location of populations and health system resources, indicators or predictors of health status, and their patterns over space and time
Geospatial data and technologies contribute to the following three interrelated immunization outcomes in the theory of change that together strengthen immunization campaigns and routine immunization program coverage and equity: 1. Increase the number of children immunized through improved target setting
The quality and value of immunization data depends on the people who are collecting, analyzing, and using the data, not just the technology they are using [8]
Summary
Maps are powerful tools for public health decision-makers to better understand the relationship between the location of populations and health system resources, indicators or predictors of health status, and their patterns over space and time. The effective use of geospatial data can show program managers which locations have not received adequate immunization services, provide more accurate denominators, and inform what vaccination delivery strategies should be used to optimize coverage and equity. It can improve monitoring of immunization programs. The Vaccine Alliance, supports a systematic approach to understanding the range of geospatial data and technology implementation experiences to guide sustainable and effective systems and governance for improving immunization services that can reach every child with life-saving vaccines while strengthening primary health care systems [9]. Geospatial data and technologies contribute to the following three interrelated immunization outcomes in the theory of change that together strengthen immunization campaigns and routine immunization program coverage and equity: 1. Increase the number of children immunized through improved target setting
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