Assessing The Validity and Reliability of Geotracking Devices in Urban Settings of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Geotracking devices offer significant potential for capturing individual mobility patterns and linking them to health-relevant environmental exposures, yet their accuracy in complex urban environments remains insufficiently evaluated. This study assessed the validity and reliability of geotracking devices across multiple urban microenvironments in Nairobi, Kenya, including high-density informal settlements, central business districts, and peri-urban areas. Using structured protocols, the research evaluated positional accuracy, signal continuity, and test-retest reliability under both controlled and real-world conditions. Results show that device performance varies considerably across built environments, with densely structured informal settlements presenting the greatest challenges to accurate signal capture. The findings offer practical guidance on device selection, study design adaptations, and analytical strategies to account for measurement error, contributing to methodological rigor in spatial epidemiological research in low- and middle-income country urban settings.