title: Profile: the Mbita health and demographic surveillance system.
abstract: The Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Mbita HDSS), located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, was established in 2006. The main objective of the HDSS is to provide a platform for population-based research on relationships between diseases and socio-economic and environmental factors, and for the evaluation of disease control interventions. The Mbita HDSS had a population of approximately 54 014 inhabitants from 11 576 households in June 2013. Regular data are collected using personal digital assistants (PDAs) every 3 months, which includes births, pregnancies, migration events and deaths. Coordinates are taken using geographical positioning system (GPS) units to map all dwelling units during data collection. Cause of death is inferred from verbal autopsy questionnaires. In addition, other health-related data such as vaccination status, socio-economic status, water sources, acute illness and bed net distribution are collected. The HDSS has also provided a platform for conducting various other research activities such as entomology studies, research on neglected tropical diseases, and environmental health projects which have benefited the organization as well as the HDSS community residents. Data collected are shared with the community members, health officials, local administration and other relevant organizations. Opportunities for collaboration and data sharing with the wider research community are available and those interested should contact shimadam@nagasaki-u.ac.jp or mhmdkarama@yahoo.com.
authors.affiliation: Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine-Kenya Medical Research Institute Project, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Eco-Epidemiology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa, Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya and Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Sheru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanyua
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndemwa
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: K'opiyo
authors.forename: Silas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okumu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diela
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karama
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance