Geographical information system and access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission in conflict affected Northern Uganda

Dick D Chamla¹ , Olushayo Olu² , Jennifer Wanyana³ , Nasan Natseri² , Eddie Mukooyo³ , Sam Okware⁴ , Abdikamal Alisalad⁵ and Melville George²

¹World Health Organization, formerly with Health Leadership services (HLS), 20 avenue appia, Geneva 1211, Switzerland

²Uganda country office, World Health Organization, 24578 Kampala, Uganda

³Health Resource Center, Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda

⁴Community Health department, Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda

⁵Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Brazzaville, Congo

author email corresponding author email

Conflict and Health 2007, 1:12doi:10.1186/1752-1505-1-12


Published:	3 December 2007

Abstract

Objectives

Using Geographical Information System (GIS) as a tool to determine access to and gaps in providing HIV counselling and testing (VCT), treatment (ART) and mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in conflict affected northern Uganda.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on availability and utilization, and geo-coordinates of health facilities providing VCT, PMTCT, and ART were collected in order to determine access. ArcView software produced maps showing locations of facilities and Internally Displaced Population(IDP) camps.

Findings

There were 167 health facilities located inside and outside 132 IDP camps with VCT, PMTCT and ART services provided in 32 (19.2%), 15 (9%) and 10 (6%) facilities respectively. There was uneven availability and utilization of services and resources among districts, camps and health facilities. Inadequate staff and stock-out of essential commodities were found in lower health facility levels. Provision of VCT was 100% of the HSSP II target at health centres IV and hospitals but 28% at HC III. For PMTCT and ART, only 42.9% and 20% of the respective targets were reached at the health centres IV.

Conclusion

Access to VCT, PMTCT and ART services was geographically limited due to inadequacy and heterogeneous dispersion of these services among districts and camps. GIS mapping can be effective in identifying service delivery gaps and presenting complex data into simplistic results hence can be recommended in need assessments in conflict settings.