What It Takes to Have a Successful Telephone Interview: Experience from Malawi Rapid Mortality Mobile Phone Survey

Funny Muthema, Institute of Public Opinion and Research
Monica Jamali, University of Malawi
Michael Chasukwa, Institute of Public Opinion and Research
Malebogo Tlhajoane, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Jacob Saikolo, Institute of Public Opinion and Research
Emmanuel Souza, University of Malawi
Julio E. Remero Prieto, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Stephane Helleringer, New York University Abu Dhabi
Georges Reniers, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Boniface Dulani, Institute of Public Opinion and Research

The success of completing telephone interviews is different from other data collection approaches. In this paper, we discuss factors and processes leading to successful telephone interviews in Malawi’s Rapid Mortality Mobile Phone Survey (RaMMPS). RaMMPS measured the impact of COVID-19 on mortality among mobile subscribers across Malawi. The research contacted 59,175 mobile subscribers and gathered 153,446 call attempts survey forms. 23.4% of calls pressed were answered and among them, 37% were completed interviews, and 14.9% were refusals. Of the cases that reached consent, 89.6% completed interviews and 3.4% did not consent. Being female (p<0.001, OR=1.73) and residing in urban areas (p=0.01, OR=0.69) were factors associated with refusing to participate in RaMMPS. Being male (p<0.001, OR=0.66) and residing in rural areas (p=0.001, OR=1.43) were factors associated with completing interviews in Malawi RaMMPS. We argue that completing telephone interviews is an art. It requires selecting best methodologies and respect for social processes.