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. 2013 Jul 11;1(2):277-84.
doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-12-00056. eCollection 2013 Aug.

Successful use of tablet personal computers and wireless technologies for the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey

Deepak Paudel  1 , Marie Ahmed  2 , Anjushree Pradhan  3 , Rajendra Lal Dangol  4
Affiliations

Successful use of tablet personal computers and wireless technologies for the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey

Deepak Paudel et al. Glob Health Sci Pract. .

Abstract

Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), coupled with the use of mobile and wireless technology, is growing as a data collection methodology. Nepal, a geographically diverse and resource-scarce country, implemented the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, a nationwide survey of major health indicators, using tablet personal computers (tablet PCs) and wireless technology for the first time in the country. This paper synthesizes responses on the benefits and challenges of using new technology in such a challenging environment from the 89 interviewers who administered the survey. Overall, feedback from the interviewers indicate that the use of tablet PCs and wireless technology to administer the survey demonstrated potential to improve data quality and reduce data collection time-benefits that outweigh manageable challenges, such as storage and transport of the tablet PCs during fieldwork, limited options for confidential interview space due to screen readability issues under direct sunlight, and inconsistent electricity supply at times. The introduction of this technology holds great promise for improving data availability and quality, even in a context with limited infrastructure and extremely difficult terrain.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: None declared.

Figures

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Data Collection and Reporting Scenario Abbreviations: HH, household; IFSS, Internet File Streaming System. In the 2011 Nepal DHS, interviewers collected household data on their tablet PCs and submitted it to their supervisors using Bluetooth technology. Supervisors provided immediate feedback to the interviewers, when necessary, and transferred the data to the central office using a protocol called Internet File Streaming System. Illustration prepared by ICF International.
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An interviewer uses his tablet PC to collect responses from a rural woman.
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Interviewers transfer data between tablet PCs.
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The 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) is a nationally representative survey covering both rural and urban areas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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