Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31321091›Full record

ReviewBMJ global health2019

Using spatial analysis and GIS to improve planning and resource allocation in a rural district of Bangladesh.

T A Robin, Marufa Aziz Khan, Nazmul Kabir, Sk Towhidur Rahaman, Afsana Karim, Imteaz Ibne Mannan, Joby George, Iftekhar Rashid

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMJ global health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Advances in small area population estimation in the absence of national census data.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

T A RobinMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0001-9421-7339
Marufa Aziz KhanMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Nazmul KabirMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Sk Towhidur RahamanMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Afsana KarimMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Imteaz Ibne MannanHemayat Project, Jhpiego Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Joby GeorgeMaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Iftekhar RashidUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0003-2775-3435

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The application of a geographic information system (GIS) in public health is relatively common in Bangladesh. However, the use of GIS for planning, monitoring and decision-making by local-level managers has not been well documented. This assessment explored how effectively local government health managers used maps with spatial data for planning, resource allocation and programme monitoring. The United States Agency for International Development-funded MaMoni Health Systems Strengthening project supported the introduction of the maps into district planning processes in 2015 and 2016. GIS maps were used to support the prioritisation of underserved unions (the lowest administrative units) and clusters of disadvantaged communities for the allocation of funds. Additional resources from local government budgets were allocated to the lowest performing unions for improving health facility service readiness and supervision. Using a mixed-methods approach, the project evaluated the outputs of this planning process. District planning reports, population-based surveys, local government annual expenditure reports and service availability and utilisation data were reviewed. The goal was to determine the degree to which district planning teams were able to use the maps for their intended purpose. Key informant interviews were conducted with

Indexed as

decentralised district planningGeographical Information Systems (GIS)maternal healthprioritisation and resources allocationSkilled Birth Attendant (SBA)

Identifiers

PMID31321091
PMCPMC6606075

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.