Validation of three geolocation strategies for health-facility attendees for research and public health surveillance in a rural setting in western Kenya

STRESMAN, G. H.; STEVENSON, J. C.; OWAGA, C.; MARUBE, E.; ANYANGO, C.; DRAKELEY, C.; BOUSEMA, T.; COX, J.

The final method tested was to see if participants resided in the catchment of self-reported nearest landmarks. This approach is the most flexible and could be easily applied at all scales, given a database of the relevant landmark with accompanying spatial information is available. At the health facility, each participant was asked to name the nearest health facility, primary school, market and church to their compound. Combinations of responses were also assessed using overlapping catchment areas to increase the precision of the approach. Locations of compounds were plotted using ArcGIS and a compound was considered to be correctly located if it fell within the catchment area or intersecting catchment areas that matched the response provided at the facility.