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. 2012 Aug;41(4):988-1001.
doi: 10.1093/ije/dys115.

Profile: Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system

Kathleen Kahn  1 , Mark A Collinson, F Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Obed Mokoena, Rhian Twine, Paul Mee, Sulaimon A Afolabi, Benjamin D Clark, Chodziwadziwa W Kabudula, Audrey Khosa, Simon Khoza, Mildred G Shabangu, Bernard Silaule, Jeffrey B Tibane, Ryan G Wagner, Michel L Garenne, Samuel J Clark, Stephen M Tollman
Affiliations

Profile: Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system

Kathleen Kahn et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

The Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system (HDSS), located in rural northeast South Africa close to the Mozambique border, was established in 1992 to support district health systems development led by the post-apartheid ministry of health. The HDSS (90 000 people), based on an annual update of resident status and vital events, now supports multiple investigations into the causes and consequences of complex health, population and social transitions. Observational work includes cohorts focusing on different stages along the life course, evaluation of national policy at population, household and individual levels and examination of household responses to shocks and stresses and the resulting pathways influencing health and well-being. Trials target children and adolescents, including promoting psycho-social well-being, preventing HIV transmission and reducing metabolic disease risk. Efforts to enhance the research platform include using automated measurement techniques to estimate cause of death by verbal autopsy, full 'reconciliation' of in- and out-migrations, follow-up of migrants departing the study area, recording of extra-household social connections and linkage of individual HDSS records with those from sub-district clinics. Fostering effective collaborations (including INDEPTH multi-centre work in adult health and ageing and migration and urbanization), ensuring cross-site compatibility of common variables and optimizing public access to HDSS data are priorities.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Research themes supported by the Agincourt HDSS, South Africa
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Location of Agincourt HDSS and sub-district within South Africa, near the Mozambique border. (b) Boundary of the Agincourt HDSS study site adjacent to the Kruger National Park, South Africa. (c) Agincourt HDSS study site and sub-district indicating positions of villages and health and education facilities
Figure 3
Figure 3
Population pyramids of the Agincourt HDSS population: 1994, 2006 and 2011. (a) de jure population, 1 July 1994; population = 66 405. (b) de jure population, 1 July 2006; population = 72 715. (c) de jure population, 1 July 2011; population = 90 036
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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