The use of Mobile Phones in Strengthening Health and Demographic Data Collection by Community key Informants : Experiences from the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Abstract

Identification and reporting of vital events such as births and deaths remain a challenge within communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). LMICs are recently experiencing high mobile phone penetration. This study, therefore, explored the feasibility of Community Key Informants (CKIs) using mobile phone technology to improve reporting of vital events at the community level. Sixty CKIs were purposively sampled from the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS) setting based on mobile phone ownership. CKIs were grouped into an intervention and a control group. The intervention arm was provided with mobile phone air time to report vital events that occurred in their communities. The control group used the routine system of reporting in the KHDSS. The number of vital events reported by CKIs increased at the end line compared to baseline: (pregnancy: 40.25% to 72.80%; birth: 56.52% to 69.80%; deaths: 33.33% to 68.60%). The time interval between event identification and reporting was much shorter for the intervention group at the end line compared to baseline: (Intervention: 95.06 days to 31.35 days, Control: 87.54 days to 80.57 days). This study demonstrated the feasibility of CKIs using a mobile phone in reporting vital events more timely and effectively.