HIV Spatial Data Repository Launched

The HIV Spatial Data Repository is a new website especially designed for geographic information system (GIS) users interested in mapping HIV indicators. The website is one of the first in the world to provide HIV data, primarily from developing countries, for GIS purposes.

The HIV Spatial Data Repository recfeatures data from MEASURE Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and from the US Census Bureau. The HIV Spatial Data Repository provides geographically-linked HIV-related data for mapping in a GIS. Data are provided in a form that allows GIS users to integrate their own GIS data to produce new analyses and mapping of HIV data.

In addition, the HIV Spatial Data Repository includes a gallery where GIS users can post the maps they have created using data from the Repository. On this interactive page, people can post maps they have created and comment on other HIV-related maps. The gallery is intended to be an online forum for collegial support and professional critiques.

Registration is free and easy! To download the GIS data, new users should register and existing users should login. Once logged in, users can download a zip file that contains the image file, metadata, table, shapefile and readme file. Visit the website at https://spatialdata.dhsprogram.com/home/

The HIV Spatial Data Repository is funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It received consultative support from the MEASURE GIS Working Group which is a collaborative effort by MEASURE Evaluation, MEASURE DHS and MEASURE Census. The Repository is part of PEPFAR’s effort to provide data for decision-making and to improve the understanding of the HIV epidemic worldwide. PEPFAR is supporting this Spatial Data Repository to facilitate the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to improve the quality and coverage of care for people living with HIV.