To assess public awareness and concern about the cholera outbreak, GeoPoll conducted a nationwide survey in Zambia using its proprietary Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) application. The remote mobile phone-based survey addressed a number of topics related to the outbreak, including:

• Access to water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene
• Access to sanitation
• Awareness of the cholera outbreak in Zambia
• Understanding of the causes, risks, and symptoms of cholera
• Household cholera experience and concern
• Access to cholera treatment
• Assessment of the government’s reaction to the outbreak

Findings from the survey show that for more than a third of respondents (35%), there has been a time in the past month when their household did not have sufficient quantities of drinking water when needed. All respondents claim to be aware of the current cholera outbreak, and most understand the causes, symptoms and where to go to seek treatment. Although only 2% of respondents report that anyone in their household has ever suffered from cholera, 36% believe they are at risk of contracting cholera, and 70% are very concerned about getting cholera. This illustrates respondents’ understanding of the severity of the disease.

Click below to download GeoPoll’s full written report on the cholera outbreak in Zambia or scroll down to view the survey data in the interactive dashboard.

Interactive Data Dashboard

Dive deeper into GeoPoll’s data on the cholera outbreak in Zambia using the interactive dashboard below. The dashboard provides responses to each question in the survey, filterable by gender, age group, and province.

Collect Data During Humanitarian Crisis with GeoPoll

GeoPoll regularly conducts international development and humanitarian aid research for United Nations agencies, NGOs, governments, humanitarian groups and other stakeholders in the development and relief sectors.

In times of crisis, GeoPoll’s mobile surveys can reach aid beneficiaries and vulnerable populations to collect vital data on food security, disaster relief, and more. Our remote research capabilities and innovative technology platform allow GeoPoll to survey communities that are inaccessible following natural disasters, conflict, or disease outbreaks, enabling organizations to gather on-the-ground insights and disseminate information quickly and safely.

This study was implemented by GeoPoll using our own mobile research platform and extensive respondent database. The questionnaire was designed by GeoPoll researchers and conducted via GeoPoll’s Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) application. Data collection occurred from February 22 to March 2, 2024. The survey was offered in English, Bemba, and Nyanja, and conducted from the GeoPoll call center in Lusaka, Zambia.

The diverse sample for the study of 400 respondents includes a gender composition of 50% female and 50% male, and an age breakdown of 25% ages 18-24, 29% ages 25-34, 32% ages 35-50, and 15% ages 51 and over. All 10 provinces (ADM1) in Zambia are equally represented.

For more information on the sample and methodology for this study or to conduct a research study of your own using the GeoPoll CATI application and our call centers around the world, contact us today.

The post GeoPoll Reports: Zambia Cholera Outbreak appeared first on GeoPoll.

In order to assess food security, security, and perceptions of foreign influence in Zambia at a high level, GeoPoll recently conducted a survey with 404 Zambians via SMS. Respondents are 51% male and 49% female and represent all ten provinces in Zambia. The age breakdown of respondents is 34% 18-24, 42% 25-34, and 24% ages 35 and older. The full results of the survey can be seen in the dashboard at the bottom of the page, and key highlights are below.

Food Security in Zambia

The first topic area we examined was food security and lack of resources in Zambia. We found that 47% indicated there had been no food to eat in their house due to a lack of resources at some point in the past 4 weeks, and 40% stated that they or a household member had gone to bed hungry due to a lack of food, with 67% of those respondents saying this had occurred 1-2 times in the past 4 weeks. A lower percentage, 25% said that they or a household member had gone a whole day and night without eating anything, with again the majority of respondents (69%) stating that this had happened 1-2 times. For all three questions around food security, females were more likely to state a lack of food or resources to get food than males.

These findings demonstrate that close to half of our sample has struggled with having enough food to eat at some point in the past 4 weeks, with a quarter reporting a more severe struggle with food insecurity and hunger.

China and Zambia: Economic and Political Influences

China has had a huge impact on Zambia ever since Zambia’s independence in 1964: China is one of the country’s oldest partners, and Zambia’s infrastructure has been hugely influenced by the Chinese firms who often win government projects for roads, airports, and more. GeoPoll’s study finds that Zambians are acutely aware of China’s influence on their country, with 70% stating that China has the largest influence on their country’s economy, over the USA, at 13%, and Zambia’s African neighbors. Politically, China and the US are perceived as having more equal influences over Zambia, though China is still mentioned by the largest percentage of respondents, 31%, compared to 28% who stated the USA has the largest influence over Zambia’s politics. Other political influencers are South Africa, at 10%, and DRC, at 7%.

Media Consumption in Zambia

Despite Zambia’s constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, in reality, Zambia’s press has been regularly threatened, and as of 2017 Freedom House still classified their press as “not free,” with most of the largest newspapers and TV outlets being owned by or at least partially controlled by the government. GeoPoll’s survey included several questions on media consumption, finding that TV is the most consumed daily media, with 58% stating that they watch TV daily, compared to 53% and 20% who listen to the radio and read physical newspapers or magazines respectively. Facebook was found to be the most popular platform for reading local news, with 66% of responses, compared to WhatsApp, which is also owned by Facebook, at 10%, and Youtube at 6%.

Conduct Research in Zambia

GeoPoll conducts surveys via SMS, voice calls, and other modes throughout Zambia on a variety of topics, from agriculture and food security to media consumption and brand awareness. To conduct your own survey with GeoPoll’s database of respondents in Zambia, please contact us today.

The post Zambia Study: China’s Influence in Zambia, Food Security, and More appeared first on GeoPoll.