An Overview of Spatial Data Protocols for Family Planning Activities: Why and How to Include the “Where” in Your Data

Author(s):

Year: 2011

Abstract:

This guide focuses on data and how to use geography to facilitate linkages among data. It presents an overview of the ways to structure family planning data to take maximum advantage of existing geographic data, or to facilitate future inclusion of the geographic context of data being gathered. Data with a geographic component are particularly well-suited to support monitoring and evaluation (M&E) efforts and evidence-based decision making within family planning activities. The use of geospatial technologies in the family planning context has been hampered by limitations that often exist with the data. This document seeks to address some of these limitations by presenting key concepts involved in the collection and use of spatially referenced family planning data.