The Use of Behavioral Observation in Global Health: A Case Study from Rural Ethiopia

Behavior plays is critical role in global health research and practice. Indirect measures of behavior, such as surveys, are easier to implement and require fewer resources, and therefore are often favored over more direct measures, such as behavioral observation. Despite these advantages, indirect measures can also produce unreliable data. Direct measures, such as behavioral observation, produce much more reliable data, yet are often underutilized in global health. Moreover, when direct measures are used the descriptions of the methods related to data collection are often minimal making it difficult for others to replicate what was done. This paper is a case study outlining the data collection methods used in an epidemiological study that evaluated the pathways of infants’ exposure to Campylobacter spp. in rural Ethiopia. Included are details on the selection of outcome or target behaviors, the data collection software, the training of enumerators, and quality control measures as well as samples of the data produced through these data collection methods.