Challenges and opportunities of tablet-based electronic performance data collection and feedback system for artificial insemination delivery in dairy cattle: experience from the land O’Lakes Venture37 PAID project in Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive statistics on the general characteristics of the respondents from Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameter	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Sex of the respondent
Male	37	74.0	45	90.0	45	88.2	127	84.1
Female	13	26.0	5	10.0	6	11.8	24	15.9
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	6.713 (0.056)
Refreshment/full-fledged training on AI technique by PAID?
Yes	50	100	50	100	51	100	151	100
No	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100

Table 2. The association of sex of the respondent with the use of ODK tool to send data in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameter	Sex of a respondent				Total
	Male		Female
	N	%	N	%	N	%
Have you ever collected and sent field performance data to PAID using ODK tool?
yes	111	87.40	13	54.20	124	82.10
No	16	12.60	11	45.80	27	17.90
Total	127	84.10	24	15.90	151	100.0
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	15.18 (0.000)

Table 3. Prior experiences of respondent AI technicians from Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions in smartphone and Tablet use before PAID project

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Prior experience of using Smartphone
Yes	20	40.0	30	60.0	43	84.3	93	61.6
No	30	60.0	20	40.0	8	15.7	58	38.4
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	21.04(0.000)
Prior experience of using Tablet
Yes	20	40.0	3	6.0	7	13.7	30	19.9
No	30	60.0	47	94.0	44	86.3	121	80.1
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	19.98(0.000)
Tablet use for data collection purposes
Yes	0	0.0	3	6.0	2	3.9	5	3.3
No	50	100	47	94.0	49	96.1	146	96.7
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	2.90(0.234)

Table 4. Information on the possession of Tablet from PAID project of respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameter	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Total
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Have you received Tablet from the project?
Yes	50	100	50	100	51	100	151	100
No	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
What type of Tablet did you receive?
Tablet with SIM card slot	20	40.0	18	36.0	9	17.6	47	31.1
Tablet without SIM card slot	30	60.0	32	64.0	42	82.4	104	68.9
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Is the Tablet still functional?
Yes	29	58.0	33	68.8	39	79.6	101	68.7
No	21	42.0	15	31.3	10	20.4	46	31.3
Total	50	34.0	48	32.7	49	33.3	147	100
If the Tablet is not functional, why is that?
Broken	8	38.1	12	80.0	5	45.5	25	53.2
Handed to others	9	42.9	0	0.0	0	0.0	9	19.1
Software problem	4	19.0	2	13.3	1	9.1	7	14.9
Battery problem	0	0.0	1	6.7	0	0.0	1	2.1
Other	0	0.0	0	0.0	5	45.5	5	10.6
Total	21	44.7	15	31.9	11	23.4	47	100
Do you still have the Tablet in your hand/at your disposal?
Yes	47	94.0	48	96.0	45	88.2	140	92.7
No	3	6.0	2	4.0	6	11.8	11	7.3
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
If the Tablet is not at your hand, where is it?
Lost	1	33.3	2	100	4	66.6	7	63.6
Handed over to the district Bureau	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	33.3	2	18.2
Transferred to others	2	66.7	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	18.2
Total	3	27.3	2	18.2	6	54.5	11	100

Table 5. Training on Open Data Kit (ODK) by PAID project and level of satisfaction by respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Training on ODK as a data collection tool?
Yes	50	100	50	100	51	100	151	100
No	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Training frequency on ODK
Once	48	96.0	11	22.0	25	49.0	84	55.6
Twice	0	0.0	19	38.0	21	41.2	40	26.5
Three times	1	2.0	10	20.0	4	7.8	15	9.9
Four times and above	1	2.0	10	20.0	1	2.0	12	7.9
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	67.27(0.000)
Level of satisfaction on ODK training
Very satisfied	21	42.0	23	46.0	11	21.6	55	36.4
Satisfied	24	48.0	22	44.0	24	47.1	70	46.4
Neutral	1	2.0	5	10.0	9	17.6	15	9.9
Unsatisfied	4	8.0	0	0.0	7	13.7	11	7.3
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	17.68(0.007)
Agreement on the importance of the training material and manuals
Strongly agree	18	36.0	8	16.0	5	9.8	31	20.5
Agree	29	58.0	35	70.0	37	72.5	101	66.9
Neutral/no change	2	4.0	6	12.0	1	2.0	9	6.0
Disagree	1	2.0	1	2.0	8	15.7	10	6.6
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	24.40(0.000)
Level of importance of the training materials and manuals prepared on ODK system
Very important	16	32.7	19	38.0	4	7.8	39	26.0
Important	30	61.2	31	62.0	21	41.2	82	54.7
Neutral	1	2.0	0	0.0	26	51.0	27	18.0
Unimportant	2	4.1	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	1.3
Total	49	32.7	50	33.3	51	34.0	150	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	67.52(0.000)

Table 6. Use of Open Data Kit (ODK) tool for data collection and sending by respondent AI technicians from Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Used ODK tool to send data
Yes	39	78.0	43	86.0	42	82.4	124	82.1
No	11	22.0	7	14.0	9	17.6	27	17.9
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	1.09(0.579)
Frequency of data sending using ODK
Everyday	1	2.6	2	4.7	4	9.5	7	5.6
Every Week	7	17.9	7	16.3	5	11.9	19	15.3
Every two weeks	1	2.6	4	9.3	8	19.0	13	10.5
Every month	30	76.9	17	39.5	21	50.0	68	54.8
Once in a while	0	0.0	13	30.2	4	9.5	17	13.7
Total	39	31.5	43	34.7	42	33.9	124	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	27.63(0.001)
Opinion about using ODK tool
Very easy	20	40.0	10	20.0	3	5.9	33	21.9
Easy	21	42.0	21	42.0	16	31.4	58	38.4
Neutral	2	4.0	12	24.0	17	33.3	31	20.5
Difficult	6	12.0	7	14.0	12	23.5	25	16.6
Very Difficult	1	2.0	0	0.0	3	5.9	4	2.6
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	31.32(0.000)
Current use of ODK tool for data sending
No	50	100	50	100	51	100	151	100
Yes	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100

Table 7. The priority (index) reasons of respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions for not sending data using ODK at all (N = 27), and currently (N = 151)

Reasons for not using ODK	Amhara	SNNP	Oromia	Overall
Reasons for not using ODK for data sending at all (N=27)
Internet problem	0.329	0.522	0.778	0.509
Couldn’t understand the system	0.414	0.087	0.000	0.205
I am not interested	0.000	0.217	0.111	0.093
I have changed my location (district)	0.071	0.087	0.000	0.056
The tablet is Brocken	0.129	0.087	0.000	0.081
Incentive is not attractive	0.057	0.000	0.111	0.056
Reasons for not using ODK for data sending currently (N=151)
Lack of internet access	0.199	0.291	0.361	0.281
The project is not receiving ODK data	0.273	0.283	0.096	0.214
Difficulty updating the list in the system	0.128	0.091	0.318	0.184
Old version of ODK	0.129	0.122	0.130	0.128
The project is not paying incentive for ODK data	0.074	0.008	0.034	0.042
I am not interested to send data through ODK	0.041	0.028	0.023	0.031
My tablet is not functional	0.125	0.130	0.016	0.088
Due to unstable ODK forms	0.032	0.010	0.002	0.015
Tablet stolen	0.000	0.020	0.012	0.010
I stopped working for the project, change of place	0.000	0.016	0.000	0.005
Communication gap b/n the project and me	0.000	0.004	0.008	0.004

Table 8. Opinions of respondent AI technicians from Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions about the support on ODK from different actors

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Support and follow up from regional Cluster coordinators on the ODK system
Strongly agree	3	6.0	3	6.0	5	9.8	11	7.3
Agree	26	52.0	23	46.0	24	47.1	73	48.3
Neutral	0	0.0	13	26.0	10	19.6	23	15.2
Disagree	17	34.0	11	22.0	11	21.6	39	25.8
Strongly disagree	4	8.0	0	0.0	1	2.0	5	3.3
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	20.12(0.010)
Support and follow up from PAID project staff in the ODK system
Strongly agree	17	34.0	15	30.0	4	7.8	36	23.8
Agree	26	52.0	21	42.0	19	37.3	66	43.7
Neutral	1	2.0	12	24.0	11	21.6	24	15.9
Disagree	6	12.0	2	4.0	14	27.5	22	14.6
Strongly disagree	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	5.9	3	2.0
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	34.66(0.000)
Use of the regional Telegram platform to raise issues related to ODK system
Yes	44	88.0	28	56.0	19	37.3	91	60.3
No	6	12.0	22	44.0	32	62.7	60	39.7
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	27.72(0.000)
Expected amount of incentive payment to ODK data
Yes	44	88.0	30	61.2	27	64.3	101	67.8
No	6	12.0	19	38.8	15	35.7	40	26.8
Total	50	35.5	49	34.8	42	29.8	141	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	27.46(0.000)

Table 9. Possession and use of WiFi Router by respondent AI technicians from Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions for data collection and sending

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Did you receive a WiFi Router from the project
Yes	21	42.0	43	86.0	43	84.3	107	70.9
No	29	58.0	7	14.0	8	15.7	44	29.1
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	30.19(0.000)
Who received the WiFi router?
My self	18	85.7	9	20.9	23	53.5	50	46.7
My Colleagues	3	14.3	34	79.1	20	46.5	57	53.3
Total	21	19.6	43	40.2	43	40.2	107	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	25.11(0.000)
Do you still have the WiFi router in your hands/at your disposal?
Yes	17	94.4	8	88.9	21	91.3	46	92.0
No	1	5.6	1	11.1	2	8.7	4	8.0
Total	18	36.0	9	18.0	23	46.0	50	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	0.28(0.87)
If not, where is it?
Handed to district Bureau	1	100	0	0.0	2	100	3	75.0
Lost	0	0.0	1	100	0	0.0	1	25.0
Total	1	25.0	1	25.0	2	50.0	4	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	4.0(0.135)
Have you ever used WiFi Router for data sending
Yes	14	29.2	6	66.7	20	46.5	40	40.0
No	34	70.8	3	33.3	23	53.5	60	60.0
Total	48	48.0	9	9.0	43	43.0	100	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	15.76(0.003)
How many times did you send data using WiFi Router?
Once	3	21.4	0	0.0	3	15.0	6	15.0
Twice	1	7.1	0	0.0	5	25.0	6	15.0
Three times	1	7.1	1	16.7	5	25.0	7	17.5
Four and more times	9	64.3	5	83.3	7	35.0	21	52.5
Total	14	35.0	6	15.0	20	50.0	40	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	32.78(0.000)
Have you ever used a shared WiFi router for data sending?
Yes	0	0.0	2	6.1	7	35.0	9	11.1
No	28	100	31	93.9	13	65.0	72	88.9
Total	28	34.6	33	40.7	20	24.7	81	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	63.55(0.000)
How many times did send data using a shared router?
Once	0	0	0	0.0	3	42.9	3	33.3
Twice	0	0	2	100	1	14.3	3	33.3
Three times	0	0	0	0.0	2	28.6	2	22.2
Four and more times	0	0	0	0.0	1	14.3	1	11.1
Total	0	0.0	2	22.2	7	77.8	9	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	34.64(0.000)
How enough is the monthly WiFi top-up provided by the project to send data and update the list?
Enough	19	42.2	6	66.7	5	35.7	30	44.1
Not Enough	26	57.8	3	33.3	9	64.3	38	55.9
Total	45	66.2	9	13.2	14	20.6	68	100
Pearson's Chi-Square (P value)	63.63(0.000)

Table 10. Priority (index) challenges of using ODK tool to collect and send data by respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Challenges to collect and send data using ODK tool	Amhara	SNNP	Oromia	Overall
Lack of Internet Service	0.227	0.288	0.303	0.272
Forms are too long/too many questions	0.269	0.216	0.239	0.241
Difficulty in updating older versions of ODK	0.147	0.071	0.062	0.093
Lack of ear tag for proper animal identification	0.080	0.117	0.043	0.081
Farmers have no mobile phone/Error log problem	0.083	0.087	0.069	0.080
Delayed incentive payment	0.023	0.079	0.074	0.059
Difficulty in updating the list of farmers and animals	0.052	0.021	0.081	0.051
Lack of support from the regional coordinators	0.053	0.027	0.027	0.036
Lack of skill and knowledge in tablet system	0.035	0.017	0.048	0.033
Language problem (problem understanding English)	0.007	0.007	0.053	0.022
Frequent changes in the system/forms	0.019	0.048	0.000	0.023
Poor awareness of farmers	0.000	0.012	0.000	0.004
Lack of support from the project staff	0.004	0.007	0.001	0.004
Incorrect/unexpected payment (incentive)	0.000	0.003	0.000	0.001

Table 11. Willingness and choice of data collection method by respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Parameters	Amhara		SNNP		Oromia		Overall
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Willingness to use the tablet-based data capturing tool if problems/challenges are solved
Yes	50	100	49	98.0	47	92.2	146	96.7
No	0	0.0	1	2.0	4	7.8	5	3.3
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
More convenient method of data collection
Tablet Based	47	94.0	42	84.0	44	86.3	133	88.1
Paper forms	3	6.0	8	16.0	7	13.7	18	11.9
Total	50	33.1	50	33.1	51	33.8	151	100
Pearson’s Chi-Square (P value)	2.62(0.27)

Table 12. Priority (index) reasons of respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions for the choice of data collection and sending methods

Reason for choosing data collection methods	Amhara	SNNP	Oromia	Overall
Tablet-based data collection
Have confidence that my report is delivered	0.279	0.245	0.252	0.259
Time saving	0.264	0.181	0.270	0.240
Easy and Convenient	0.121	0.199	0.082	0.133
Saves Money	0.107	0.083	0.094	0.095
Saves energy	0.061	0.081	0.133	0.092
Incentive payment is fast	0.003	0.110	0.121	0.076
It is new/modern technology	0.096	0.091	0.039	0.075
It is reliable	0.069	0.011	0.009	0.031
Paper-based data collection
Easy and Convenient	0.244	0.355	0.291	0.310
Time saving	0.289	0.264	0.291	0.279
Save energy	0.178	0.100	0.214	0.159
It is Reliable	0.222	0.136	0.097	0.136
Incentive is better	0.067	0.145	0.107	0.116

Table 13. Order (index) of potential solutions to re-start Tablet-based data collection system by respondent AI technicians in Amhara, SNNP, and Oromia regions

Activities to be performed	Amhara	SNNP	Oromia	Overall
Avail internet system to all AI technicians	0.236	0.225	0.283	0.248
Training of AI technicians	0.269	0.196	0.249	0.238
Change those tablets without SIM slots	0.281	0.184	0.145	0.203
Train regional coordinators to get the required support	0.029	0.111	0.032	0.058
Test the system for its effectiveness	0.059	0.092	0.009	0.053
Enough quantity of printed ear tags should be provided	0.005	0.105	0.044	0.052
Revise incentive rate for tablet based data	0.044	0.023	0.075	0.047
Reducing the prolonged and number of the questioner	0.000	0.028	0.092	0.040
Use local Language	0.022	0.016	0.057	0.032
Farmer and animal registration should be handled by other stakeholders	0.055	0.007	0.012	0.024
Facilitate and arrange motor cycle for the purpose	0.000	0.013	0.001	0.005