Erratum to: Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems Within the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network

Abstract Health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs) provide a foundation for characterizing and defining priorities and strategies for improving population health. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project aims to inform policy to prevent child deaths through generating causes of death from surveillance data combined with innovative diagnostic and laboratory methods. Six of the 7 sites that constitute the CHAMPS network have active HDSSs: Mozambique, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, and South Africa; the seventh, in Sierra Leone, is in the early planning stages. This article describes the network of CHAMPS HDSSs and their role in the CHAMPS project. To generate actionable health and demographic data to prevent child deaths, the network depends on reliable demographic surveillance, and the HDSSs play this crucial role.

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Pathology and Telepathology Methods in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz579 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 69 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. S322-S332 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Roosecelis B Martines ◽

Jana M Ritter ◽

Joy Gary ◽

Wun-Ju Shieh ◽

Jaume Ordi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Health ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Molecular Testing ◽

Surveillance Network ◽

Pathology Laboratory ◽

Pathologic Evaluation ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Central Pathology ◽

Image Archives ◽

Health And Mortality

Abstract This manuscript describes the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network approach to pathologic evaluation of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) specimens, including guidelines for histopathologic examination and further diagnostics with special stains, immunohistochemistry, and molecular testing, as performed at the CHAMPS Central Pathology Laboratory (CPL) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as techniques for virtual discussion of these cases (telepathology) with CHAMPS surveillance locations. Based on review of MITS from the early phase of CHAMPS, the CPL has developed standardized histopathology-based algorithms for achieving diagnoses from MITS and telepathology procedures in conjunction with the CHAMPS sites, with the use of whole slide scanners and digital image archives, for maximizing concurrence and knowledge sharing between site and CPL pathologists. These algorithms and procedures, along with lessons learned from initial implementation of these approaches, guide pathologists at the CPL and CHAMPS sites through standardized diagnostics of MITS cases, and allow for productive, real-time case discussions and consultations.

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Standardization of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling Specimen Collection and Pathology Training for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz565 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 69 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. S302-S310 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Natalia Rakislova ◽

Fabiola Fernandes ◽

Lucilia Lovane ◽

Luisa Jamisse ◽

Paola Castillo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Child Health ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Training Program ◽

Tissue Sampling ◽

Surveillance Network ◽

Staff Members ◽

Specimen Collection ◽

Death Investigation ◽

Health And Mortality

Abstract Background Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a simplified postmortem examination technique that has shown to be an adequate approach for cause of death investigation in low-resource settings. It requires relatively low level of infrastructures and can be performed by health professionals with no background in pathology. A training program has been developed for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network to guarantee standardization of specimen collection techniques, procedures, and laboratory methods. Methods The training program has included assessment of the site capacities and training on a standardized protocol of MITS sampling and histological processing. The project has also introduced a program of training for trainers for the personnel from Mozambique. To guarantee the adequacy of the procedure in each site, a trainer accompanied the local teams when the activities started. Training outcomes were assessed by evaluating the quality of the samples obtained and the quality of the slides produced locally. Results Between June 2016 and October 2018, the laboratories of 7 sites (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa) have been evaluated and upgraded. Training has been delivered to 63 staff members from all sites. More than 600 MITS procedures have been performed. The quantity of tissue obtained in the MITS by the local teams was sufficient or abundant in 73%, and 87% of the slides were considered as technically acceptable or excellent. Conclusions Satisfactory standardization of MITS and histology procedures has been achieved across all CHAMPS sites through organized capacity-building plans.

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Pregnancy Surveillance Methods within Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems

Gates Open Research ◽

10.12688/gatesopenres.13332.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 144

Author(s):

Christie Kwon ◽

Abu Mohd Naser ◽

Hallie Eilerts ◽

Georges Reniers ◽

Solveig Argeseanu Cunningham

Keyword(s):

Child Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Middle Income ◽

Manual Search ◽

Postnatal Mortality ◽

Demographic Surveillance Systems ◽

Methodological Guidelines ◽

In Pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy identification and follow-up surveillance can enhance the reporting of pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirths and perinatal and early postnatal mortality. This paper reviews pregnancy surveillance methods used in Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We searched articles containing information about pregnancy identification methods used in HDSSs published between January 2002 and October 2019 using PubMed and Google Scholar. A total of 37 articles were included through literature review and 22 additional articles were identified via manual search of references. We reviewed the gray literature, including websites, online reports, data collection instruments, and HDSS protocols from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Study (CHAMPS) Network and the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (INDEPTH). In total, we reviewed information from 52 HDSSs described in 67 sources. Results: Substantial variability exists in pregnancy surveillance approaches across the 52 HDSSs, and surveillance methods are not always clearly documented. 42% of HDSSs applied restrictions based on residency duration to identify who should be included in surveillance. Most commonly, eligible individuals resided in the demographic surveillance area (DSA) for at least three months. 44% of the HDSSs restricted eligibility for pregnancy surveillance based on a woman’s age, with most only monitoring women 15-49 years. 10% had eligibility criteria based on marital status, while 11% explicitly included unmarried women in pregnancy surveillance. 38% allowed proxy respondents to answer questions about a woman’s pregnancy status in her absence. 20% of HDSSs supplemented pregnancy surveillance with investigations by community health workers or key informants and by linking HDSS data with data from antenatal clinics. Conclusions: Methodological guidelines for conducting pregnancy surveillance should be clearly documented and meticulously implemented, as they can have implications for data quality and accurately informing maternal and child health programs.

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