Development of Health Digital GIS Map for Tuberculosis Disease Distribution Analysis in Sudan

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a growing health concern in Sudan, necessitating improved disease surveillance and management.
• Existing health service distribution may not align with patient populations, leading to resource inefficiencies.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing spatial health data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a health digital GIS map for visualizing tuberculosis (TB) health center distribution in Sudan.
• To analyze the geographical distribution of TB patients and health services to identify disparities.
• To support medical institutions in optimizing drug supply and consumption based on real-world data and patient needs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a health digital GIS map integrating data on TB patients, health centers, and drug supply.
• Analysis of geographical data to identify patterns in the distribution of TB centers and patient access.
• Evaluation of drug supply and consumption data against patient numbers at various health centers.

Main Results:

• The study identified significant defects in the geographical distribution of TB centers in certain Sudanese states.
• An analysis revealed an unfair distribution of medical resources, with some centers overstocked and others under-resourced.
• The Northern State exemplifies this issue, with 15 TB centers serving only 84 patients, indicating potential inefficiencies.

Conclusions:

• A health digital GIS map is crucial for understanding and addressing geographical disparities in TB healthcare delivery in Sudan.
• The findings highlight the need for data-driven strategies to ensure equitable distribution of TB health centers and medications.
• Implementing the GIS map can lead to improved resource management, better patient outcomes, and more efficient TB control programs.