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Wutor BM, Osei I, Sarwar G, Adefila WO, Galega LB, Hossain I, Abdulsalam Y, Lamin KM, Baldeh AM, Barry B, Ezeani E, Mackenzie G. Under-5 mortality surveillance in low-income and middle-income countries: insights from two Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems in rural Gambia. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e014937. [PMID: 38569661 PMCID: PMC10989099 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Without complete data on under-5 mortality, tracking progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 will be challenging. Such data are also needed to ensure proper planning and prioritisation of scarce resources in low-income and middle-income countries. However, most low-income and middle-income countries have weak Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, leaving a critical gap in understanding under-5 mortality dynamics. This paper outlines a community-based approach to enhance under-5 mortality surveillance in low-income countries, using The Gambia as a case study. The methodology involves Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) in Basse and Fuladu West, employing unique identification numbers, periodical household visits and collaboration with communities, village reporters and project field workers to ensure comprehensive data collection. Verbal autopsies (VAs) are conducted by trained field workers, and causes of death are determined using the physician-certified VA method. Between 1 September 2019 and 1 September 2023, 1333 deaths were detected, for which causes of death were determined for 97.1% (1294 of 1333). The most common causes of death detected were acute respiratory infections including pneumonia, sepsis, diarrhoeal diseases and birth asphyxia. Challenges include the cost of maintaining the HDSSs, poor road infrastructure, Electronic Data Capture transition challenges, and the need for national integration of HDSS data into the CRVS system. The success of this model highlights its potential for scalable and adaptable under-5 mortality surveillance in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baleng Mahama Wutor
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Isaac Osei
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Golam Sarwar
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Williams Oluwatosin Adefila
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Lobga Babila Galega
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Ilias Hossain
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Yusuf Abdulsalam
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Keita Modou Lamin
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Alhagie Muya Baldeh
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Basiru Barry
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Esu Ezeani
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Grant Mackenzie
- Disease Control and Elimination, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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