Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach
Abstract Knowing up-to-date geographical location of residential areas is crucial for understanding health-related factors and formulating targeted interventions. However, such data are often unavailable or resource-intensive to collect. This study employed low-cost approaches to map residential are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Data |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05605-5 |
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| author | Chifuniro Baluwa Patrick Ken Kalonde Upendo Lisa Mseka Owen Tsoka Kingsley Kajanga Faith Chimphondah Prince Time Matope Aaron Francis Chimbalanga Blessings Chiepa Clinton Nkolokosa Latif Ndeketa Patrick Musicha Kondwani Charles Jambo Michelle C. Stanton James Chirombo |
| author_facet | Chifuniro Baluwa Patrick Ken Kalonde Upendo Lisa Mseka Owen Tsoka Kingsley Kajanga Faith Chimphondah Prince Time Matope Aaron Francis Chimbalanga Blessings Chiepa Clinton Nkolokosa Latif Ndeketa Patrick Musicha Kondwani Charles Jambo Michelle C. Stanton James Chirombo |
| author_sort | Chifuniro Baluwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Knowing up-to-date geographical location of residential areas is crucial for understanding health-related factors and formulating targeted interventions. However, such data are often unavailable or resource-intensive to collect. This study employed low-cost approaches to map residential areas in Blantyre district, Malawi, which was severely affected by a cholera outbreak that lasted over a year (March 2022 to August 2023). We trained five data collectors using KoBo Toolbox and engaged Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and motorcycle operators for precise location identification. We validated the data by involving key stakeholders from Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) and Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (MLW). We successfully mapped 764 locations, demonstrating the effectiveness in rapidly mapping both residential and hard-to-reach areas. Associated costs were calculated based on MLW standard rates. This process highlighted the critical importance of accurate geolocation for public health research and interventions. Our study provides valuable spatial data and showcases the feasibility of cost-effective methods for gathering crucial public health information in resource-limited settings, potentially serving as a model for similar efforts globally. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0b3e89ea6a34dd5a20e74e53f4ca2f1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2052-4463 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Data |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0b3e89ea6a34dd5a20e74e53f4ca2f12025-08-20T04:01:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Data2052-44632025-07-0112111210.1038/s41597-025-05605-5Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approachChifuniro Baluwa0Patrick Ken Kalonde1Upendo Lisa Mseka2Owen Tsoka3Kingsley Kajanga4Faith Chimphondah5Prince Time Matope Aaron6Francis Chimbalanga7Blessings Chiepa8Clinton Nkolokosa9Latif Ndeketa10Patrick Musicha11Kondwani Charles Jambo12Michelle C. Stanton13James Chirombo14Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi University of Business and Applied Science, ChichiriUniversity of Malawi, ChirungaQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke PlaceMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme, Chipatala AvenueAbstract Knowing up-to-date geographical location of residential areas is crucial for understanding health-related factors and formulating targeted interventions. However, such data are often unavailable or resource-intensive to collect. This study employed low-cost approaches to map residential areas in Blantyre district, Malawi, which was severely affected by a cholera outbreak that lasted over a year (March 2022 to August 2023). We trained five data collectors using KoBo Toolbox and engaged Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and motorcycle operators for precise location identification. We validated the data by involving key stakeholders from Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) and Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (MLW). We successfully mapped 764 locations, demonstrating the effectiveness in rapidly mapping both residential and hard-to-reach areas. Associated costs were calculated based on MLW standard rates. This process highlighted the critical importance of accurate geolocation for public health research and interventions. Our study provides valuable spatial data and showcases the feasibility of cost-effective methods for gathering crucial public health information in resource-limited settings, potentially serving as a model for similar efforts globally.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05605-5 |
| spellingShingle | Chifuniro Baluwa Patrick Ken Kalonde Upendo Lisa Mseka Owen Tsoka Kingsley Kajanga Faith Chimphondah Prince Time Matope Aaron Francis Chimbalanga Blessings Chiepa Clinton Nkolokosa Latif Ndeketa Patrick Musicha Kondwani Charles Jambo Michelle C. Stanton James Chirombo Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach Scientific Data |
| title | Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach |
| title_full | Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach |
| title_fullStr | Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach |
| title_short | Updated fine-scale location data for Blantyre district collected using a low-cost approach |
| title_sort | updated fine scale location data for blantyre district collected using a low cost approach |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05605-5 |
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