Using GIS to Target Audiences for Ebola Preparedness in Western Uganda

Summary:

Following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), WHO raised the alert for neighboring countries, including Uganda, which borders DRC in the South and Western regions. Improving risk perception, building structures, and conducting interventions to prepare communities requires real time community surveillance and case identification. Geographic information systems (GIS) are digital systems that can integrate, store, adjust, analyze and arrange geographically-referenced information to improve program coordination. USAID/CHC to support the development and implementation of risk communication interventions to prepare communities to prevent and mitigate an Ebola outbreak by increasing knowledge, addressing myths and misconceptions, and enabling the adoption of desired behaviours. GIS was used to inform the selection of the most at-risk communities and to assess the coverage of interpersonal communication and mass media activities through geospatial analysis tools and field GIS data that was converted into category and intensity maps to identify gaps. GIS spatial and non-spatial data was instrumental in improving the targeting of risk communication interventions in community at heightened risk of Ebola. GIS enabled the real-time documentation of interventions, visualizing 167 community dialogues, 509 home visits, and 1,569 community activations between 2018 and 2019, which was shared with other stakeholders to inform programming changes. Visualization of SBCC interventions through GIS data plays a significant role in improving the planning, targeting, implementation, and monitoring of activities. GIS can be used to produce simple maps documenting interventions to improve coordination, monitor coverage, and avoid duplication.

Background/Objectives:

Following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), WHO raised the alert for neighboring countries, including Uganda, which borders DRC in the South and Western regions. Communities in these border regions are heightened risk because of cross-border movements for trade, tourism and other purposes. Improving risk perception, building structures, and conducting interventions to prepare communities requires real time community surveillance and case identification. Geographic information systems (GIS) are digital systems that can integrate, store, adjust, analyze and arrange geographically-referenced information to improve program coordination.

Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:

The Ministry of Health (MOH) requested USAID/CHC to support the development and implementation of risk communication interventions to prepare communities to prevent and mitigate an Ebola outbreak by increasing knowledge, addressing myths and misconceptions, and enabling the adoption of desired behaviours. GIS was used to inform the selection of the most at-risk communities and to assess the coverage of interpersonal communication and mass media activities through geospatial analysis tools and field GIS data that was converted into category and intensity maps to identify gaps.

Results/Lessons Learned:

GIS spatial and non-spatial data was instrumental in improving the targeting of risk communication interventions in community at heightened risk of Ebola. GIS enabled the real-time documentation of interventions, visualizing 167 community dialogues, 509 home visits, and 1,569 community activations between 2018 and 2019, which was shared with other stakeholders to inform programming changes. These visualizations helped stakeholders to avoid duplication of interventions, contributing to more effective resource utilization.

Discussion/Implications for the Field:

Visualization of SBCC interventions through GIS data plays a significant role in improving the planning, targeting, implementation, and monitoring of activities. GIS can be used to produce simple maps documenting interventions to improve coordination, monitor coverage, and avoid duplication. These benefits are especially important in risk communication activities, which must achieve appropriate coverage and require coordination with several stakeholders.

Abstract submitted by:

Felix Manano - FHI 360
Edward Kagguma Kakooza - FHI 360
Brian Asiimwe - FHI 360
Leonard Bufumbo - FHI 360
Musa Kimbowa - FHI 360