Researchers at Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Maternal Newborn and Child Health have this week been joined by counterparts from five countries to do data analysis for the largest survey ever to assess the methods used in Demographic Health Surveys to measure newborn deaths and stillbirth rates in low and middle income countries.
This is being done under the species of the Every Newborn – INDEPTH study which brings together five Health Demographic Surveillance sites in Africa and Asia with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Makerere University School of Public Health Providing technical assistance.
The participating HDSS sites include Bandim (http://www.indepth-network.org/member-centres/bandim-hdss); Dabat (http://www.indepth-network.org/member-centres/dabat-hdss) ; Iganga-Mayuge (http://www.indepth-network.org/member-centres/igangamayuge); Kintampo (http://www.indepth-network.org/member-centres/kintampo-hdss); Matlab (http://www.indepth-network.org/member-centres/matlab-hdss).
According to Prof Peter Waiswa, “with evidence from this work, the world will develop better tools for measuring the newborns we lose and respond better.”
Ten academic publications are being planned from this study and two research fellows (Joseph Akuze Waiswa and Doris Kwesiga) attached to the Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Maternal Newborn and Child Health are currently pursuing PhDs under this work.