Using iPhones for a Nationwide KAP Survey CRS Sierra Leone Emily Bostick Program Manager - Malaria March 28, 2012 ICT4D Conference Kigali, Rwanda Creating Value Through ICT4D Partnerships

Project Background (1) Global Fund Malaria – Health Sector – National Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices Survey Partners – Ministry of Health and Sanitation / National Malaria Control Program / Dept. of Planning and Information, WHO, Statistics Sierra Leone

Project Background (2) Problem – How to efficiently collect high- quality data for national surveys for evidence-based communications strategies Why ICT4D? – Familiarization with electronic data collection, avoid time and error of paper, previous discussions with health professionals

ICT Solution (1) Solution – using iForm Builder / iPhone 3GS to collect data using 89 enumerators over 4 weeks Necessary Support – p1: introduce technology for stakeholder buy-in, build local capacity to program – p2: program, train, test, trouble shoot – p3: transfer final dataset and analyze with 100% confidence in data integrity

ICT Solution (2) Staff support – programming, tech, logistics Partnership has influenced the choice based on enthusiasm, sustainability (esp. in terms of continued expenses), choice of devices, experience with PDA randomization

RH_E

iFB versus Paper iFormBuilder Develop paper form first Auto-calculations, skips and verification logic Longer training in two steps necessary Need backup plan Field support line Supervisor responsibility Cleaner, quicker, geo- tagged data Paper Develop paper form first Dependent on enumerators to follow One training with only one format No backup collection plan Less field support Supervisor responsibility “Dirty” physical data forms

Key Challenges (1) Limited support in phase 1 Timing of project activity (started before team was fully operational; performance-based funding) Underestimation of time required for each activity (response rather than preparation mode) Communication on expected outputs

Key Challenges (2) Procurement and Testing from HQ Distribution of work amongst team Security of goods Partners competing priorities / inability to accept responsibility re: iPhones Rushing led to some programming errors Technology solution unable to process magnitude of data

Lessons Learned Partnership – involve partners early Importance of a clear process Necessity of resources and tools for planning process Importance of testing Necessity to slow down Necessity of longitudinal support

Sustainability Need trained / invested local staff Need financial deals for partners Need 100% guarantee that technology is appropriate and tested choice iFB has been able to work directly with us to resolve issues and has offered reasonable pricing for MOHS, should they continue with this technology

Summary and Close Plan early Demand support Have a plan B and plan C Monitor all data in process for completion, duplicates and glitches

Thank You! Emily Bostick