L'Engle Kelly, Sefa Eunice, Adimazoya Edward Akolgo, Yartey Emmanuel, Lenzi Rachel, Tarpo Cindy, Heward-Mills Nii Lante, Lew Katherine, Ampeh Yvonne
School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
FHI 360, Communicate for Health (C4H) Project, Accra, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2018 Jan 19;13(1):e0190902. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190902. eCollection 2018.
Generating a nationally representative sample in low and middle income countries typically requires resource-intensive household level sampling with door-to-door data collection. High mobile phone penetration rates in developing countries provide new opportunities for alternative sampling and data collection methods, but there is limited information about response rates and sample biases in coverage and nonresponse using these methods. We utilized data from an interactive voice response, random-digit dial, national mobile phone survey in Ghana to calculate standardized response rates and assess representativeness of the obtained sample.
The survey methodology was piloted in two rounds of data collection. The final survey included 18 demographic, media exposure, and health behavior questions. Call outcomes and response rates were calculated according to the American Association of Public Opinion Research guidelines. Sample characteristics, productivity, and costs per interview were calculated. Representativeness was assessed by comparing data to the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and the National Population and Housing Census.
The survey was fielded during a 27-day period in February-March 2017. There were 9,469 completed interviews and 3,547 partial interviews. Response, cooperation, refusal, and contact rates were 31%, 81%, 7%, and 39% respectively. Twenty-three calls were dialed to produce an eligible contact: nonresponse was substantial due to the automated calling system and dialing of many unassigned or non-working numbers. Younger, urban, better educated, and male respondents were overrepresented in the sample.
The innovative mobile phone data collection methodology yielded a large sample in a relatively short period. Response rates were comparable to other surveys, although substantial coverage bias resulted from fewer women, rural, and older residents completing the mobile phone survey in comparison to household surveys. Random digit dialing of mobile phones offers promise for future data collection in Ghana and may be suitable for other developing countries.
在低收入和中等收入国家生成具有全国代表性的样本通常需要进行资源密集型的家庭层面抽样，并逐户收集数据。发展中国家较高的手机普及率为替代抽样和数据收集方法提供了新机会，但关于使用这些方法时的回复率以及覆盖范围和无回复情况下的样本偏差的信息有限。我们利用来自加纳一项交互式语音应答、随机数字拨号的全国手机调查的数据来计算标准化回复率，并评估所获样本的代表性。
调查方法在两轮数据收集中进行了试点。最终调查包括18个关于人口统计学、媒体接触和健康行为的问题。根据美国民意研究协会的指南计算通话结果和回复率。计算样本特征、生产率和每次访谈的成本。通过将数据与加纳人口与健康调查以及全国人口与住房普查进行比较来评估代表性。
该调查于2017年2月至3月的27天内进行。共完成9469次访谈，3547次部分访谈。回复率、合作率、拒绝率和联系率分别为31%、81%、7%和39%。拨打23个电话才能产生一个合格联系人：由于自动呼叫系统以及拨打许多未分配或无法使用的号码，无回复情况很严重。样本中年轻、城市、受教育程度较高和男性受访者的比例过高。
创新的手机数据收集方法在相对较短的时间内产生了大量样本。回复率与其他调查相当，尽管与家庭调查相比，完成手机调查的女性、农村和老年居民较少，导致了较大的覆盖偏差。手机随机数字拨号为加纳未来的数据收集带来了希望，可能也适用于其他发展中国家。
