In the developed world estimates of excess mortality are typically derived from civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, and the generated data are always being in use for the population health and economic development and also in disaster management. But in low and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs) these are often absent or inadequate to fulfil data needs resulting in delays in various development of the population in those countries. During the pandemics these insufficiencies prolongs the sufferings of the people in those countries. Therefore, it is imperative to develop methods and tools for measuring excess mortality in LMICs. Rapid Mortality Mobile Phone Surveys (RAMMPS) are a viable approach to safely generating timely (excess) mortality data in settings where suitable alternatives are lacking. Owing to the expansion of mobile phone use, mobile phone surveys have become highly popular in LLMICs but have not yet been used for mortality surveillance. Further, surveys can be conducted without in-person contact with respondents, which makes them particularly suitable for settings affected by epidemics or humanitarian crises where the mobility of interviewers may be restricted.

IEDCR through this protocol is partnering with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to implement Rapid Mortality Mobile Phone Surveys (RAMMPS) in a nationally representative stratified adult (18 years of age or older) population in Bangladesh. This project will utilize a standard core questionnaire and be administered through random digit dialing using the IEDCR call center. We will conduct interviews for five to six months, and will collect 25,000 complete surveys. Establishing RAMMPS methods and tools is of importance beyond the measurement of (excess) COVID-19 mortality. In the long run, RAMMPS may have applications in existing mortality surveillance systems and household surveys, where they might serve as a cheaper alternative or complement to face-to-face interviews. Further, RAMMPS may serve as a temporary solution for generating mortality estimates in settings where face-to-face data collection is interrupted or hindered. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Unicef America are providing the financial support for this project.

For further information on this ongoing survey, you may contact:

Dr Sudipta Sarker - +880 1749583311

Dr Mahbubur Rahman - +880 1712044103

Dr Iqbal Ansary Khan - +880 1730328994