Background: Mobile phone surveys (MPSs) have gained traction as a tool for gathering survey data, especially following the emergency of COVID-19. However, our understanding of MPS data quality in contexts with limited mobile phone penetration is still modest. Objective: This study evaluates (1) the circumstances under which mobile phone survey interviews were conducted and how these might influence the completion and quality of interviews, and (2) whether mortality-related questions upset respondents. Methods: We present descriptive statistics on respondents’ locations and a few debriefing questions, complemented by an analysis of audio recordings from a selection of interviews. Results: Findings indicate that interviews conducted while respondents are in public places are more likely to be interrupted or take longer compared to interviews conducted when respondents are at home. Furthermore, mortality questions only rarely trigger emotional distress among respondents. We observed no discernible shifts in respondents’ tone when answering mortality questions relative to other questions. Conclusions: It is less desirable to conduct MPS interviews when respondents are in public places, especially on topics that require privacy. Additionally, although sensitive, mortality questions should be treated like any other, as they are largely not as upsetting as commonly perceived. Contribution: As MPSs continue to gain ground in low- and middle-income countries, establishing good practices related to the circumstances wherein respondents take interviews is crucial. Aside from being sensitive and respectful when asking survey questions, enumerators should treat mortality questions like any other. Only in a few instances do these questions typically trigger negative emotional reactions.

中文翻译：

---

询问 COVID-19 期间在马拉维进行的死亡率手机访谈的质量和完成度：访谈者与受访者互动的考察（作者：Emmanuel Souza、Jethro Banda、Monica Jamali、Funny Muthema、Jacob Saikolo、Michael Chasukwa、Malebogo Tlhajoane、Boniface Dulani、Julio Romero-Prieto、Georges Reniers、Stephane Helleringer）


背景：手机调查 （MPS） 作为收集调查数据的工具越来越受欢迎，尤其是在 COVID-19 紧急情况之后。然而，我们对手机普及率有限的情况下 MPS 数据质量的理解仍然不多。目的：本研究评估了 （1） 进行手机调查访谈的情况以及这些访谈如何影响访谈的完成和质量，以及 （2） 与死亡率相关的问题是否让受访者感到不安。方法：我们提供了有关受访者位置的描述性统计数据和一些汇报问题，并辅以对精选访谈的录音的分析。结果：研究结果表明，与受访者在家中进行的访谈相比，受访者在公共场所进行的访谈更有可能被打断或花费更长的时间。此外，死亡率问题很少在受访者中引发情绪困扰。我们观察到，在回答死亡率问题时，相对于其他问题，受访者的语气没有明显的变化。结论：当受访者在公共场所时，进行 MPS 访谈不太可取，尤其是关于需要隐私的话题。此外，尽管敏感，但死亡率问题应该像对待任何其他问题一样对待，因为它们在很大程度上并不像通常认为的那样令人不安。贡献：随着 MPS 在低收入和中等收入国家继续发展，建立与受访者接受访谈的情况相关的良好做法至关重要。除了在询问调查问题时保持敏感和尊重之外，普查员还应该像对待任何其他问题一样对待死亡率问题。 只有在少数情况下，这些问题通常会引发负面的情绪反应。