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A Review of Geospatial Methods for Population Estimation and their use in constructing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Service Indicators

Kristine Nilsen, University of Southampton
Natalia Tejedor-Garavito, University of Southampton
Douglas R Leasure, University of Southampton
Chigozie E Utazi, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton
Corrine Ruktanonchai, Virginia Tech
Adelle Wigley, University of Southampton
Claire A. Dooley, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Zoe Matthews, University of Southampton
Andrew J. Tatem, University of Southampton

Household survey data are frequently used to measure reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) service utilisation in low and middle income countries. However, these surveys are typically only undertaken every five years and tend to be representative of larger geographical administrative units. Investments in district health management information systems (DHMIS) have increased the capability of countries to collect continuous information on the provision of RMNCAH services at health facilities. However, reliable and recent data on population distributions and demographics at subnational levels necessary to construct RMNCAH coverage indicators are often missing. One solution is to use spatially disaggregated gridded datasets containing modelled estimates of population counts. Here, we provide an overview of various approaches to the production of gridded demographic datasets and outline their potential and their limitations. Further, we show how gridded population estimates can be used as alternative denominators to produce RMNCAH coverage metrics in combination with data from DHMIS, using childhood vaccination as examples.

Keywords: Demographic and social surveys, Policy evaluation, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population geography

See paper.

  Presented in Session 147. Measurement Issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research