Abstract
BackgroundThe Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a longitudinal data collection process that systematically and continuously monitors population dynamics for a specified population in a geographically defined area that lacks an effective system for registering demographic information and vital events.MethodsHDSS programs have been run in 2 regions in Kenya: in Mbita district in Nyanza province and Kwale district in Coast Province. The 2 areas have different disease burdens and cultures. Vital events were obtained by using personal digital assistants and global positioning system devices. Additional health-related surveys have been conducted bimonthly using various PDA-assisted survey software.ResultsThe Mbita HDSS covers 55 929 individuals, and the Kwale HDSS covers 42 585 individuals. In the Mbita HDSS, the life expectancy was 61.0 years for females and 57.5 years for males. Under-5 mortality was 91.5 per 1000 live births, and infant mortality was 47.0 per 1000 live births. The total fertility rate was 3.7 per woman. Data from the Kwale HDSS were not available because it has been running for less than 1 year at the time of this report.ConclusionsOur HDSS programs are based on a computer-assisted survey system that provides a rapid and flexible data collection platform in areas that lack an effective basic resident registration system. Although the HDSS areas are not representative of the entire country, they provide a base for several epidemiologic and social study programs, and for practical community support programs that seek to improve the health of the people in these areas.
Highlights
A Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a longitudinal data collection process that systematically and continuously monitors population dynamics in a specified population in a geographically defined area that lacks an effective system for registering demographic information and vital events.[1,2,3] The simplest HDSS consists of prospective data collection of vital events such as births, deaths, and migrations among the population, with periodic updates made via visits to all households in the defined area (Figure 1)
Data collection methods Baseline census Using software for personal digital assistants (PDAs)—ie, a small device resembling a computer that uses a pencil-like stick instead of a keyboard to enter data—and a global positioning system (GPS) that we developed for this project, all households and all members in the HDSS areas were registered by our local field interviewers
To provide a house identification that enables us to recognize geographic areas and locations we developed a grid geographical address system that uses longitude and latitude given by the GPS mounted on the PDA
Summary
A Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a longitudinal data collection process that systematically and continuously monitors population dynamics in a specified population in a geographically defined area that lacks an effective system for registering demographic information and vital events.[1,2,3] The simplest HDSS consists of prospective data collection of vital events such as births, deaths, and migrations among the population, with periodic updates made via visits to all households in the defined area (Figure 1). The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a longitudinal data collection process that systematically and continuously monitors population dynamics for a specified population in a geographically defined area that lacks an effective system for registering demographic information and vital events. The HDSS areas are not representative of the entire country, they provide a base for several epidemiologic and social study programs, and for practical community support programs that seek to improve the health of the people in these areas
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