Detection of vulnerable communities in East Africa via novel data streams and dynamic stochastic block models

Ellis, Madeleine (2021) Detection of vulnerable communities in East Africa via novel data streams and dynamic stochastic block models. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Thesis - as examined) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Available under Licence Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (93MB) | Preview

Abstract

In developing countries it is challenging to collect data on poverty and its associated community health characteristics. Data collection in this context is impractically laborious and resource greedy. Additionally due to the sensitive nature of these themes the data is often unreliable. There is a need for alternative methods of detection of vulnerable communities. However, promising opportunities arise via novel rich data streams such as Call Data Records stemming from the ubiquitous use of mobile phones. Despite the growth of Call Data Record data there has been limited previous application to problems of poverty and development. This thesis makes three main contributions: (i) Methods of collecting ground truth data in Developing areas; (ii) Best practices in application to detect vulnerable regions; (iii) Development of new applications of statistical approaches to the problem via the stochastic block model. This work is focused on Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Having more reliable and easily accessible truths on these vulnerabilities can have a high potential impact for policy makers and NGOs trying to make positive changes to reduce devastating effects of poverty. This thesis produces comprehensive results to amend the current knowledge gaps, via rigorous fine-grained data collection processes surveying the 452 subwards in Dar es Salaam in relation to poverty and social vulnerability.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Goulding, James
Preston, Simon
Keywords: Communities; Poverty, Research; Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); Cell phones; Public health; Data transmission systems
Subjects: H Social sciences > HC Economic history and conditions
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Social Sciences, Law and Education > Nottingham University Business School
Item ID: 67041
Depositing User: Ellis, Madeleine
Date Deposited: 08 Dec 2021 04:40
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2021 04:40
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/67041

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View