A Spatial Data Model for HIV/AIDS Surveillance and Monitoring in Nigeria

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is a region characterised by high rates of several deadly diseases most especially HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS alone has claimed the life of many people and turned many innocent children to orphans. There is relatively little consistent or reliable data that can be used for surveillance, monitoring, and management of these diseases in the region HIV/AIDS inclusive. To alleviate the problem of patchy and inconsistent epidemiological data, a well structured, interoperable spatial data model for HIV/AIDS surveillance and monitoring is proposed for Nigeria in this paper. This paper initially reviews some of the existing health data models which were modified and extended to develop a data model for HIV/AIDS surveillance, monitoring, and management. The data model captures information required for the development of HIV/AIDS surveillance systems. The model is developed using the Unified Modelling Language. The work aims to produce the model as an open standard in order to promote collaboration and encourage researchers in developing nations to contribute to the maintenance of the data model. The model is implemented in XML, and will be applied to a system using service oriented architecture.