Stakeholder perspectives on implementing geographic information systems for leprosy elimination in Pakistan: A qualitative study
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Health, Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- 2Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center (MALC), Karachi, Pakistan
- 3Department of Global Health, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- 4German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (DAHW), Wuerzburg, Germany
- 5Rawalpindi Leprosy hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 6Brightlands Institute for Smart Society (BISS), Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Abstract
Introduction: Leprosy remains a pressing global health concern, with Pakistan among countries still facing missed and delayed diagnosis. By highlighting elevated risk areas, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a cost-effective solution to improve leprosy case detection by guiding targeted interventions to high-risk areas. This study’s purpose was to investigate the perceived GIS implementation facilitators and barriers, to support targeted interventions and advance the Zero Leprosy strategy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve stakeholders, including local field staff, program managers, and international experts. Thematic analysis was guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) to identify facilitators and barriers concerned with GIS implementation for leprosy. Results: Key facilitators included an integrated multi-disease and pilot-based rollout approach, capacity building activities, offline-capable tools, and improved visibility to drive motivation. Barriers included the limited local capacity in complex GIS data analysis, hybrid digital-manual workflows, historical data lacking GPS, and ensuring feedback and ownership for staff members. Conclusion: GIS implementation is not only dependent on individual readiness, but also on broader external and organizational facilitators and constraints. This necessitates holistic implementation strategies that recognize the interconnectedness of different parts of the system. Internal capacity building is paramount to address statistical complexity and to build trust, ownership, and independence. As the world moves closer to achieving Zero Leprosy, integrating GIS within a multi-disease approach will be critical to making sustainable progress in combatting neglected tropical diseases.
Related
- Parent and stakeholder perspectives on a school-based food programme supporting diverse communities in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study
- Divergent stakeholder perspectives on antimicrobial resistance and One Health in Ghana: a qualitative study
- Implementing a mental fitness workshop in a Canadian Practical Nursing Program: A qualitative descriptive study
- “They’re just shifting a problem”: A qualitative study of stakeholder perceptions of the welfare implications of UK rescue dog importation
- Implementing the national action plans on antimicrobial resistance in Jordan: document analysis and policymakers' perspectives.
BibTeX
@article{geskus2026stakeholder,
title = {{Stakeholder perspectives on implementing geographic information systems for leprosy elimination in Pakistan: A qualitative study}},
author = {Vincent Geskus and Anil Fastenau and Rhea Brüggemann and Fabian Schlumberger and Johan van Soest and Matthew Willis},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360428},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360428},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Stakeholder perspectives on implementing geographic information systems for leprosy elimination in Pakistan: A qualitative study
AU - Vincent Geskus
AU - Anil Fastenau
AU - Rhea Brüggemann
AU - Fabian Schlumberger
AU - Johan van Soest
AU - Matthew Willis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360428
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360428
AB - Introduction: Leprosy remains a pressing global health concern, with Pakistan among countries still facing missed and delayed diagnosis. By highlighting elevated risk areas, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a cost-effective solution to improve leprosy case detection by guiding targeted interventions to high-risk areas. This study’s purpose was to investigate the perceived GIS implementation facilitators and barriers, to support targeted interventions and advance the Zero Leprosy strategy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve stakeholders, including local field staff, program managers, and international experts. Thematic analysis was guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) to identify facilitators and barriers concerned with GIS implementation for leprosy. Results: Key facilitators included an integrated multi-disease and pilot-based rollout approach, capacity building activities, offline-capable tools, and improved visibility to drive motivation. Barriers included the limited local capacity in complex GIS data analysis, hybrid digital-manual workflows, historical data lacking GPS, and ensuring feedback and ownership for staff members. Conclusion: GIS implementation is not only dependent on individual readiness, but also on broader external and organizational facilitators and constraints. This necessitates holistic implementation strategies that recognize the interconnectedness of different parts of the system. Internal capacity building is paramount to address statistical complexity and to build trust, ownership, and independence. As the world moves closer to achieving Zero Leprosy, integrating GIS within a multi-disease approach will be critical to making sustainable progress in combatting neglected tropical diseases.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -