HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM PROFILE Profile: Manhica Health Research Centre

Accepted 24 June 2013The Manhic¸a Health Research Centre, established in 1996 in a ruralarea of southern Mozambique, currently follows around 92000individuals living in approximately 20000 enumerated and geo-pos-itioned households. Its main strength is the possibility of linkingdemographic data and clinical data to promote and conduct bio-medical research in priority health areas. Socio-demographic dataare updated twice a year and clinical data are collected on a dailybasis. The data collected in Manhic¸a HDSS comprises householdand individual characteristics, household socio-economic assets,vital data, migration, individual health history and cause ofdeath, among others. Studies conducted in this HDSS contributedto guide the health authorities and decision-making bodies todefine or adjust health policies such as the introduction ofMozambique’s expanded programme of immunization with differ-ent vaccines (Haemophilus influenzae type b, Pneumococcus) or thedevelopment of the concept of Intermittent Preventive Treatmentfor Infants (IPTi) that led to the World Health Organization recom-mendation of this method as best practice for the control of malariaamong infants. Manhic¸a’s data can be accessed through a formalrequest to Diana Quelhas (diana.quelhas@manhica.net) accompa-nied by a proposal that will be analysed by the Manhic¸a HDSSinternal scientific and ethics committees.Keywords Rural Southern Mozambique, HDSS, households, population,health, mortality, morbidity, migration, fertility, cause of death