Leveraging geospatial technology for effective health planning for maternal and child health in Nigeria.

Abstract

Nigeria faces persistent challenges in maternal and child health, with some of the highest mortality rates globally. Despite efforts to expand health care access, gaps remain due in part to inefficient data systems and reliance on paper-based microplanning. The GeoST4R project aimed to address these challenges by integrating geospatial technology into microplanning. In 2024, GeoST4R piloted the Geospatial Microplanning Toolkit (GMT)-a mobile application that enables health workers to visualize, update and analyze spatial data for targeted interventions-in Kano and Kaduna states. From harmonizing data sources (including health facilities, settlements and infrastructure) to building capacities of health workers to use the Toolkit, this article highlights the Toolkit development and implementation process, lessons learned and recommendations for scaling and sustaining digital microplanning solutions to improve health outcomes across Nigeria. GeoST4R trained 275 health workers and engaged stakeholders in hands-on sessions to update baseline data, map outreach sites and refine catchment areas. This led to significant improvements in health data, including the addition of 922 new settlements, updates to 616 settlement names and revisions of 73 facility names. For the first time, 1008 outreach sites were mapped, enhancing service coverage and data integration. The intervention also contributed to improve maternal and child health outcomes, boosting contraceptive uptake, skilled birth attendance and immunization coverage, demonstrating the value of geospatial tools for better health planning.