Use of GIS mapping for HIV/AIDS surveillance and to inform public health policy in Tshwane, South Africa

Background

The goal of the study was to identify the actual HIV/AIDS service needs and to assess if the current services actually met the community's needs in Tshwane, South Africa. This study exemplified the use of GIS mapping to illustrate the location of services and service delivery gaps.

Objective

• Estimate the epidemiological burden and risk of HIV/ AIDS.

• Identify the current level of services that was available.

• Determine the service needs of the HIV/AIDS community.

• Compare the spatial distribution of the needs and that of the available services so as to identify the gaps in service provision.

• Assess the utilization patterns of the available services

Methods

An epidemiological assessment to estimate the burden of HIV/AIDS as well as the number of individuals that require specific services was conducted. Secondly service providers were identified using directories, internet searches, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Organizational and service data was collected from 227 organizations using a close-ended questionnaire. GPS data on the organizations location was collected to generate GIS maps. Estimates of the service needs were compared to the data collected in order to identify gaps and overlaps in the HIV treatment and service provisions. The GIS map was analyzed to identify the areas that were most affected.

Results

A lack of human resources was identified as a challenge for service delivery. It was calculated that the HIV+ population in Tshwane is 306,929, with 144,257 people in need of ART; 1,707 needing PMTCT, and 52,647 orphans needing care. Most of the services are located in the densely distributed areas.

Discussion/Conclusion

This project successfully identified HIV/AIDS service needs. The data serves as an important basis from which improved community interventions and strategies can be built that are apt for the specific needs of the area.