Comparison of a palm-based biometric solution with a name-based identification system in rural Bangladesh

Glob Health Action. 2022 Dec 31;15(1):2045769. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2045769.

Abstract

Background: Unique identifiers are not universal in low- and middle-income countries. Biometric solutions have the potential to augment existing name-based searches used for identification in these settings. This paper describes a comparison of the searching accuracy of a palm-based biometric solution with a name-based database.

Objective: To compare the identification of individuals between a palm-based biometric solution to a name-based District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) Android application, in a low-resource setting.

Methods: The study was conducted in Chandpur district, Bangladesh. Trained data collectors enrolled 150 women of reproductive age into two android applications - i) a name-based DHIS2 application, and ii) a palm-based biometric solution - both run on tablets. One week after enrollment, a different research team member attempted to re-identify each enrolled woman using both systems. A single image or text-based name was used for searching at the time of re-identification. We interviewed data collectors at the end of the study.

Results: Significantly more women were successfully identified on the first attempt with a palm-based biometric application (84%) compared with the name-based DHIS2 application (61%). The proportion of identifications that required three or more attempts was similar between name-based (7%, CI 3.7-12.3) and palm-based biometric system (5%, CI: 1.9-9.4). However, the total number of attempts needed was significantly lower with the palm-based solution (mean 1.2 vs. 1.5, p < 0.001). In a group discussion, data collectors reported that the palm-based biometric identification system was both accurate and easy to use.

Conclusion: A palm-based biometric identification system on mobile devices was found to be an easy-to-use and accurate technology for the unique identification of individuals compared to an existing name-based application. Our findings imply that palm-based biometrics on mobile devices may be the next step in establishing unique identifiers in remote and rural settings where they are currently absent.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Biometrics; DHIS2; biometric identification; palmprint.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bangladesh
  • Biometric Identification*
  • Biometry* / methods
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Humans

Associated data

  • ISRCTN/ISRCTN69491836

Grants and funding

This study is a part of the eRegistry research project in Bangladesh, funded by the GLOBVAC (grant agreement number: 248073, project title: Strengthening the extension of RMNCH services in Bangladesh with an electronic health registry: A cluster randomized control trial, eRegMat: ISRCTN69491836). The project implementation is supported by Intellectual Ventures, Global Good Fund, USA. The eRegistry research project also receives funding from Center for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health (CISMAC), University of Bergen, Norway. icddr,b is grateful to the Governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Sweden and the UK for providing core/unrestricted support. Funding agencies did not have any influences in the design, data collection, data analysis and reporting.