GIS Techniques for M&E of HIV/AIDS and Related Programs


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Author(s): Spencer J, Stewart J, Wilkes B

Year: 2015

GIS Techniques for M&E of HIV/AIDS and Related Programs Abstract:

This course presents a practical guide for using a geographic information system (GIS) to integrate, visualize, and analyze geographically-referenced data extracted from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other key data sets to facilitate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of HIV/AIDS and related health programs. To make the course accessible to learners without commercial GIS software licenses, the course focuses on the use of free and open source software (FOSS).

Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to:

  • Define a GIS and articulate the value of using a GIS to integrate, visualize, and analyze program data.
  • Differentiate the primary uses of several free and open source GIS software options.
  • Explain the fundamentals of geographic data, including the shapefile format.
  • List the principal geo-referenced sources for HIV/AIDS data and explain how their geographic structure can be leveraged for M&E of HIV/AIDS and related programs.
  • Recognize the types of M&E questions that can be answered using the highlighted data sets and GIS software packages.
  • Use the free and open source GIS software package, QGIS, to perform essential GIS tasks needed to respond to typical M&E questions.

Although the course is designed primarily for M&E professionals working for or with HIV/AIDS programs in countries receiving Global Health Initiative/PEPFAR support, analysts and decision makers from other public health programs will benefit from the techniques and data sources explained.

Available in EPUB and Kindle editions and as an online certificate course.