Profile: The Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

Transcription

1 Profile: The Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Figure 1. Map of Mbita HDSS showing the 4 locations. Brief Introduction The Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Mbita HDSS) was started as a major part of a collaborative project between the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Nagasaki University (also known as Nekken in abridged Japanese or NUITM in Kenya) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The Mbita HDSS is located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Homa Bay county on the western part of Kenya. It is a mostly rural area found between latitudes 0º 21' and 0º 32' South and longitudes 34º 04' and 34º 24. It is about 400 km west of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya and it covers Km2. The field station in Mbita is located in the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) research compound. The administrative locations covered in this system are Rusinga West, Rusinga East, Gembe West and Gembe East subdivided into 17 field interviewer areas. The Mbita HDSS had a population of approximately 53,300 inhabitants and 11,151 households in 9th April The population lives on subsistence farming, small scale businesses,

2 fishing and keeping domestic animals. Two wet seasons usually occur annually from March to June and October to November, but the periods vary to some extent each year. Regular data has been collected in the past using Personal Digital Assistants every 3 months which includes births, pregnancies, migration events, deaths. Coordinates are taken using GPS units to map all dwelling units during data collection. However, currently, we are in the process of developing a system of using Android-based tablets for data collection. Cause of death is inferred from verbal autopsy questionnaires. In addition other health related data such as vaccination status, socio-economic status, water sources, acute illness, bed net distribution are collected. Data is currently updated at 3 month intervals. The residential unit is the compound which consists of one or more households together. Traditional houses are mud and grass thatch huts. Modern constructions, made of concrete and corrugated iron, tend to replace traditional houses. The households obtain their water from various sources such as the Lake Victoria, Ministry of Water taps, rivers, boreholes, open dams as well as rain water. The HDSS has also provided a platform for conducting various other research activities such as entomology, research on neglected tropical diseases, environmental health projects which have benefitted the organisation as well as the HDSS community residents. Data collected is shared with the community members, health officials, local administration and other relevant organisations. Opportunities for collaboration and data sharing with the wider research community are available and those interested should contact shimadam@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.

3 Static Population of Mbita HDSS (April, 2012) Males Females Source: Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System Figure 2. The static population pyramid of the Mbita HDSS. Demographic Characteristics Crude Birth Rate (CBR) Crude Death Rate (CDR) Neonatal Mortality Post-neonatal Mortality Infant Mortality In-Migration Out-Migration 12.6 per 1000 population 4.1 per 1000 population 6.4 per 1000 live births 27.3 per 1000 live births 33.8 per 1000 live births 59.7 per 1000 population 43.3 per 1000 population Objectives

4 The main objective is to provide a platform for population-based research on relationships between diseases and socio-economic, environmental factors and for evaluation of disease control interventions. The specific objectives of the HDSS project are as follows: i. To establish baseline data on the demographic, socio-economic, environmental and health characteristics of the communities in Mbita district in Kenya. ii. To document all births, deaths, in-migrations, out-migrations, socio-economic status, pregnancy outcome and causes of death at given intervals. iii. To investigate and evaluate interrelationships between health and socio-economic interventions and their impact on morbidity and mortality. iv. To provide a platform for scientific studies in the prevention, management and control of parasitic, viral, bacterial and degenerative and lifestyle related diseases. v. To provide a platform for education and training; and multidisciplinary research for health professionals, graduate students and researchers. Priority research areas The project integrates different scientific and operational research projects which aim at solving problems not in the HDSS site but also in areas where similar challenges prevail. The areas of interest include socio-economic, maternal and child health, water and sanitation, school-health, nutrition, bed net surveys, determining causes of death among others. Funders The Mbita HDSS is funded by Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University (NUITM or Nekken) in Japan. Collaborators Ministry of Health, Kenya Local Government, Kenya

5 International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) The INDEPTH Network Key publications 1. Kaneko S, K Opiyo J, Kiche I,Wanyua S, Goto K,Tanaka J, Mwatasa J, Mwangangi M, Komazawa O, Karama M, Moji, K, Shimada M: Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the Western and Coastal areas of Kenya: An infrastructure for epidemiologic studies in Africa Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) in Suba District, Kenya. Tropical Medicine and Health Vol. 35 No. 2, 2007, pp Proceedings of the 30 th Annual Meeting of Kyushu Regional Society of Tropical Medicine Held in Nagasaki on February 9 and 10, Kaneko S, Mushinzimana E, Karama M. 3. Iwashita H, Dida G, Futami K, Sonye G, Kaneko S, Horio M, et al. Sleeping arrangement and house structure affect bed net use in villages along Lake Victoria. Malaria Journal Jun 22; 9(1): Minakawa N, Dida GO, Sonye GO, Futami K, Kaneko S. Unforeseen misuses of bed nets in fishing villages along Lake Victoria. Malaria journal. 2008; 7: Kaneko S, Mushinzimana E, Karama M. Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) in Suba District, Kenya. Tropical Medicine and Health. 2007; 35(2): Shimada M, Ichinose Y, Kaneko S, Minakawa N. Profile of the Nagasaki University Kenya Research Station and Activities. Proceedings of the 30 th Annual Meeting of Kyushu Regional Society of Tropical Medicine Held in Nagasaki on February 9 and 10, 2007 Tropical Medicine and Health. 2007;35(2):29-31.

6 7. Komazawa O, Kaneko S, K Opiyo J, Kiche I, Wanyua S, et al. (2012) Are Long- Lasting Insecticidal Nets Effective for Preventing Childhood Deaths among Non- Net Users? A Community-Based Cohort Study in Western Kenya. PLoS ONE 7(11): e doi: /journal.pone

7 PHOTOS: Field interviewer conducting an interview.

8 Field interviewer conducting an interview. Field interviewer manager filling in a verbal autopsy questionnaire

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