INDEPTH - a new international network
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An International Network of field sites with continuous Demographic
Evaluation of Populations and their Health in Developing Countries
At a meeting in Dar es Salaam, from 9 to 12 November 1998, members of
field sites based on demographic and health surveillance convened to
establish the INDEPTH network. Seventeen field sites, drawn from 13
countries in Africa and Asia, participated in this constituting meet-
ing. Over four days, the INDEPTH founding document was drafted, debated
and adopted by all member sites, a co-ordinating committee and chair
were unanimously elected, and seven initial workgroups were formed.
Their focus includes:
- data analysis and capacity strengthening;
- technical support to field sites;
- comparative assessments of mortality;
- reproductive health;
- malaria; and
- applications to policy and practice.
Each workgroup developed a programme of activities for the first year.
What characterises an INDEPTH field site?
* A geographically-defined population, under continuous demographic
monitoring, with timely production of data on all births, deaths and
migrations;
* This monitoring system provides a platform for a wide range of health
system innovations as well as social, economic, behavioural and
health interventions and research studies.
Why a network now?
Leading up to the INDEPTH constituting meeting has been a rapidly grow-
ing interest in demographic surveillance, summarised by the following
observations:
* an increase in interest in information for decision making;
* an increased demand for evidence-based planning;
* an increased demand for reassessment of priorities;
* an increase in the number of demographic surveillance field sites;
* a decrease in the cost of demographic surveillance methods;
* an increased interest on the part of demographic surveillance field
sites to fully harness their individual and collective potential for
policy influence through networking.
Vision and Goals of the INDEPTH Network
The prime purpose of the network will be to substantially enhance the
capabilities of INDEPTH field sites through:
* technical strengthening;
* methodological development;
* widened applications to policy and practice;
* increased interaction between site leaders, researchers and managers.
Much of this can be effectively addressed through bringing these field
stations into ongoing and effective contact, so providing opportunities
to:
* Continually improve the methods and technologies used in resource-
poor settings;
* Cultivate cross-national activity and broaden the scope of research;
* Build capacity at individual and institutional levels;
* Strengthen the interface of research with policy and practice;
* Improve the validity and generalizability of findings.
Why focus on these field sites ?
For one billion people living in the world's poorest countries, where
the burden of disease is highest, there remains a void in vital health
information. This constitutes a major and long-standing constraint to
the articulation of effective policies and programs aimed at improving
the health of the poor. The imperative for a reliable information base
to support health development has never been greater. A critical con-
tribution to this is the experience of a limited, but increasing, num-
ber of field stations which have, as their foundation, continuous moni-
toring of geographically defined populations that can generate high
quality, population-based, health and demographic data on a longitudi-
nal basis. These data are able to inform priority setting, policy deci-
sions and the allocation of resources. They also lead to a highly-
focused intervention-oriented, research agenda, including a range of
health, social, economic and behavioral studies.
Sites Represented at the INDEPTH Constituting Conference:
Adult Morbidity and Mortality Project (AMMP), Tanzania
Agincourt, South Africa
Bandim, Guinea-Bissau
Butajira, Ethiopia
CHNRL, Indonesia
CSSH, Viet Nam
Digkale, South Africa
Gwembe, Zambia
Hlabissa, South Africa
Kilombero Insecticide Treated Nets Project (KINET), Tanzania
Kisumu, Kenya
Kolondieba, Mali
Manhica, Mozambique
Matlab, ICDDR,B, Bangladesh
Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana
Prapass, Burkina Faso
Tanzania Essential Health Interventions Program (TEHIP), Tanzania
For more information
mailto:INDEPTH@africaonline.com.gh
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