Abstract:
Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping software provide powerful tools for
management and analysis of infectious diseases control programs. The use of this
technology can be tailored to suit a wide range of applications. These include: practical
operational maps to assist with location, and analytical tools to facilitate program
monitoring and evaluation. The study aimed at designing and developing a monitoring
and tracking system for Trachoma patients within Kajiado County. The specific
objectives of the study were: to undertake a feasibility study on the need for the GIS
system in Kajiado County; to undertake a system analysis for the development of a GIS
application system to monitor Trachoma patients; to design and develop a GIS system to
monitor and manage Trachoma patients in Kajiado County; to test the GIS system for
efficiency and reliability. The requirements specifications for the system included: to
improve the collection and reporting of aggregated health data of Trachoma patients
through mobile technologies; to identify specific locations vulnerable to Trachoma within
Kajiado County; to identify congregate groups targeted for preventive measures of
Trachoma disease; to create maps to help stakeholders to establish the location of the
patients within Kajiado County. This study was based on the Susceptible Infected
Recovered (SIR) model.The research design used was Experimental and the system
methodology used was Evolutionary prototyping. Data was collected using face to face
interviews and document analysis from Bissil, Mile 46, Kitengela and Isinya which were
used to test the system. The following ethical issues were considered: respect for the
dignity of (research participants) which included medical practitioners, CHW and
patients was prioritised; Full consent was obtained from the Doctor in charge of Kajiado
prior to the study; adequate level of confidentiality of the patient data was ensured. Cross
case analysis was used to analyze the data within the areas. The Android operating
system and Java programming were used to develop the user interface for capturing the
data by the CHW through the use of a GIS enabled phone (Samsung). Google map
application was used to identify the locations of the patient on a map. Visual Basic.net
programming language was used to generate the reports to be used by AMREF
Coordinators for decision making.The findings of the study were as follows; Reporting of
Trachoma Patients using the GIS enabled mobile phones led to reduction of the spread of
Trachoma by improving the data collection, the use of maps enabled the medical
practitioners and the AMREF coordinators to quickly identify the location/household of
Trachoma Prevalence areas. Developing of the Trachoma monitoring and tracking system
provided accurate information concerning Trachoma patients leading to fast policy and
decision making by the concerned personnel. It is concluded that developing of
Trachoma Monitoring system was a quick and effective solution for reporting patients
infected with Trachoma. The system should be adapted to replace the current manual
paper based way of reporting patients infected with Trachoma by CHW. The study
further recommends developing of a GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection system for web
and mobile devices which would allow collection of Trachoma patient data in real time
mode.