How can we use geographic information systems for health research in South Sudan?

GIS can help answer important health research questions in South Sudan, including: What is the geographic distribution of disease burden? Which populations are more than 5km from a health facility? How does health service coverage vary by geographic accessibility? What is the relationship between conflict events and health outcomes? Available GIS data sources for South Sudan include the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX), the Malaria Atlas Project, the WorldPop population data, and the DHIS2 Health Facility Registry.

QGIS is a free, open-source GIS tool that is well-suited for health research in resource-limited settings. SSHIA offers training on QGIS and its application in health research. The WHO Health Mapper tool is also useful for disease mapping and has been used in South Sudan for disease surveillance.