Mortality Mapping as a Decision-Support Tool for African Public Health Policy: Review of how GIS-driven Mortality Data Informs Interventions
Abstract:
Mortality mapping has emerged as a transformative decision-support tool for public health policy in Africa. This conceptual review examines how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geostatistical methods are being used to generate high-resolution mortality data to inform equitable policy responses, with a focus on Nigeria as a case study. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and institutional reports, the paper synthesizes evidence on the develop ment, application, and policy implications of GIS-driven mortality mapping. The findings reveal that fine-scale mor tality maps expose hidden geographies of child and maternal mortality, highlighting disparities that are obscured by national or state-level averages. By translating complex mortality data into accessible visual formats, GIS supports precision health planning, targeted resource allocation, and improved accountability in governance. However, bar riers such as weak civil registration systems, data quality gaps, and limited institutional capacity persist. The study concludes that integrating mortality mapping into national health systems can enhance data-driven decision-mak ing, advance health equity, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
