Implementation of Mobile Phone Data Collection in the Conduct EPI Comprehensive Review in East and Southern African Countries

Abstract

Mobile phone data collection tools are increasingly becoming very usable collecting, collating and analysing data in the health sector. In this paper, we documented the experiences with mobile phone data collection, collation and analysis in 5 countries of the East and Southern African, using Open Data Kit (ODK), where questionnaires were designed and coded on an XML form, uploaded and data collected using Android-Based mobile phones, with a web-based system to monitor data in real-time during EPI comprehensive review. The ODK interface supports in real-time monitoring of the flow of data, detection of missing or incomplete data, coordinate location of all locations visited, embedded charts for basic analysis. It also minimized data quality errors at entry level with the use of validation codes and constraint developed into the checklist. These benefits, combined with the improvement that mobile phones offer over paper-based in terms of timeliness, data loss, collation, and real-time data collection, analysis and uploading difficulties, make mobile phone data collection a feasible method of data collection that needs to be further explored in the conduct of all surveys in the organization.

Determining Inaccurate Coordinates in Electronic Data Collection for Surveillance and Immunization Supportive Supervision: A Case Study of Nigeria EPI Supportive Supervision Module

“…The South–East had the best records at all levels with mistakes only coming from the LGAFs, while the South–South and South–West CCs have a greater number of records with inaccurate coordinates as compared to the other zones ( Table 1 ), which may be due to poor training or staff not being aware of the importance of the geocoordinates. It is also pertinent to note that the use of mobile phones for data collection had become commonplace with many studies documenting the challenges of training, lack of patience in collecting coordinates location, and the capability of the mobile phones or tablets used in data collection ( 19 , 21 – 23 ), which is similar to the result found in this study, sighting training and the use of the right mobile device while implementing mobile data collection.…”

Assessment of open data kit mobile technology adoption to enhance reporting of supportive supervision conducted for oral poliovirus vaccine supplementary immunization activities in Nigeria, March 2017-February 2020

“…Open Data Kit (ODK) mobile technology was adopted in March 2017 for supportive supervision reporting in Nigeria to address the limitations of paper forms and consequentially strengthen supervision quality during polio SIAs. Open Data Kit is a free and open-source application on Android for mobile data collection, and an internet connection is not required to enter or capture data [ 14 ]. The adoption of ODK was part of the strategies deployed to improve the quality of the polio SIAs with the re-emergence of WPV type 1 in 2016, after going two years without detecting a case in Nigeria [ 15 ].…”