2. INTRODUCTION
To study a population there is a need for collection of information through various
sources of data.
Collection of information about population is based on either
1) Census
2) Surveys
Demographic Surveillance Systems (DSS) began in the 1960s as a means of
tracking longitudinal demographic changes to populations in developing countries.
3. DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE
SYSTEM
Demographic surveillance is the process of defining risk and corresponding dynamics in rates of
birth, deaths, and migration in a population over time.
Demographic Surveillance systems are often
set up around specific intervention studies and later convert into
standing DSS sites that can form a platform for further studies.
The term DSS has recently been changed to HDSS with ‘h’ standing for ‘health’ .
The first DSS was established in 1963 MATLAB in Bangladesh.
4. DSS (cont)
Members of a geographically defined community are tracked over time.
The population size of a DSS site depends on the particular research focus of the
site and cost and capacity.
DSS sites collect data on births, deaths, causes of death, and migration which
provide an important resource for evaluating health care interventions within the
site.
5. DSS : METHODOLOGY
An initial baseline census is taken in the community, after which all marriages, pregnancies, births,
deaths, and migration dynamics are tracked over time.
Deaths that occur to residents within the DSS boundaries are reported by a key informant, and Verbal
autopsy interviewers visit households where a death has occurred to administer the verbal autopsy
questionnaire.
6. INDEPTH
International Network of Field Sites with Continuous
Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Develo
ping Countries or INDEPTH was
established in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1998 .
INDEPTH focuses to foster the
established HDSS, promote the creation of new sites, coordinate ac
tivities, support uniform field procedures, allow
comparative analyses, share know-
how, and stimulate collaboration with international research instituti
ons.
INDEPTH covers 45 member health research centres in 20
countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania
7. INDEPTH:AIM AND ITS OBJECTIVES
INDEPTH aims to harness the collective potential of the world's community-based longitudinal
demographic surveillance initiatives in low- and middle-income countries to provide a better
understanding of health and social issues and to encourage the application of this understanding to
alleviate major health and social problems.
Strategic Objectives
To strengthen the capacity of INDEPTH member centres to conduct longitudinal health and
demographic studies.
To stimulate, co-ordinate and conduct cutting-edge multicentre health and demographic research.
To facilitate the translation of INDEPTH findings to maximise impact on policy and practice
10. MATLAB (Bangladesh)
Matlab started since 1966.
Mission is to develop and disseminate solutions to
health and population problems facing the world
Population characteristics :
Population density.
Religion (90% Muslims)
Education / literacy rate (69% illiterate)
Housing, drinking water (tube well 95%)
Sanitation (open latrine)
Occupation (agriculture, fishing)
Transport (foot/ rickshaw/ boats)
Immunisation coverage (high)
11. Objectives
Provide small area registration system suitable for
assessment of effectiveness, safety, acceptability of
MCH and family planning intervention.
Research related to diarrhoeal diseases, measurement
and determinants of fertility and mortality.
Develop demographic field site for training of programme
planners, researchers and implementers.
People involved
Dias (weekly household visit)
Health assistant (visited household every 6 week)
Female CHW were hired for family planning among
treatment and comparison group.
Supervisors
12. Monitoring system covers all household and data is
collected only from households.
Birth, death, migration recorded since 1966.
Health data now covers:
Reproductive status
Contraception
Tetanus
Children under five( immunisation, diarrhoea and
respiratory infections).
Field procedures
Initial census and regular update rounds.
Continuous surveys
Supervision and quality control
Data management.
13. ADVANTAGES HDSS
High quality data
Using DSS is a good way to supplement information from other sources such as
mortality rates from a national census or sporadic information from a civil
registration system.
DSS site data is that researchers can study the effects of interventions and monitor
and evaluate the effects of health care programs over time.
Other types of demographic information can also be collected such as fertility
rates, population growth, and demographic characteristics of the population.
14. LIMITATIONS OF HDSS
DSS data is that it is not nationally representative.
DSS is not so cost effective.
DSS require the use of field personnel to collect data
as well as analysts to code and validate data for
what may be a relatively large geographic area.
15. REFERENCES
Health and demographic surveillance systems: a step towards full civil registration
and vital statistics system in subSahara
The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Nouna, Burkina Fas
o, 1993–2007
INDEPTH Monograph: Volume 1 Part C
http://www.indepth-network.org/