{
  "abstract": "Mobile phone-based surveys are increasingly used for data collection in global contexts – and although the strengths and limitations of this methodology in high-income countries are well-documented, less is known about using this approach (particularly for longitudinal data collection) in low- and middle-income countries, where mobile phone ownership has expanded rapidly. In this paper, we leverage data from a parent study about cervical cancer prevention to understand the features associated with retention and loss to follow-up in repeated random-digit dialed mobile phone-based surveys over time in Kenya. From a cohort of 1405 people surveyed in 2022, 1167 were found again in 2024 (83.1%) and 1106 completed the 2024 survey (78.7%). Survey re-completion was significantly associated with older age (versus 17−32 year olds: OR 1.63 [95% CI 1.21–2.20] for 33−38 year olds, OR 1.65 [95% CI 1.22–2.22] for 39−45 year olds, and OR 2.62 [95% CI 1.84–3.72] for ≥46 year olds), male gender (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.14–1.83]), and household income. Only age was significantly associated with our secondary outcome of being retained in the sample for follow-up (regardless of survey re-completion). This study’s high follow-up rate was not substantially different across these aforementioned groups, suggesting that mobile phone-based data collection is a promising approach, even for longitudinal surveys, in diverse global settings. We encourage more research about, and using, this methodology so researchers can better understand, and improve, follow-up and its determinants.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Public Health Policy and Management, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, United States of America",
    "Department of Biostatistics, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, United States of America",
    "Innovations for Poverty Action, Nairobi, Kenya"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Corrina Moucheraud"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Boyu Fan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Guanghao Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eric Ochieng"
    },
    {
      "name": "George Ganda"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ginger Golub"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alex Dahlen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5cvknjxjxmsfa.bib",
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  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0354780",
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  "id": "5cvknjxjxmsfa",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
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  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3312|Survey Methodology and Nonresponse"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Vaccination and immunization"
    ],
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      "plos",
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Papillomaviruses/Human papillomavirus"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Preventive medicine/Vaccination and immunization"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Kenya"
    ],
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      "/Research and analysis methods/Research design/Survey research"
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      "/Research and analysis methods/Research design/Survey research/Surveys"
    ],
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      "/Social sciences/Anthropology/Cultural anthropology/Religion"
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      "/Social sciences/Economics/Economic geography/Low and middle income countries"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0354780&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5cvknjxjxmsfa.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0354780",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0354780"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
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    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
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    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:public and occupational health",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
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  ],
  "title": "Understanding retention in longitudinal surveys conducted by mobile phone in lower-resource contexts: A case study from Kenya",
  "title_text": "Understanding retention in longitudinal surveys conducted by mobile phone in lower-resource contexts: A case study from Kenya",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5cvknjxjxmsfa",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}