Abstract:
The Manhiça Health Research Centre, established in 1996 in a rural
area of southern Mozambique, currently follows around 92 000
individuals living in approximately 20 000 enumerated and geo-pos-
itioned households. Its main strength is the possibility of linking
demographic data and clinical data to promote and conduct bio-
medical research in priority health areas. Socio-demographic data
are updated twice a year and clinical data are collected on a daily
basis. The data collected in Manhiça HDSS comprises household
and individual characteristics, household socio-economic assets,
vital data, migration, individual health history and cause of
death, among others. Studies conducted in this HDSS contributed
to guide the health authorities and decision-making bodies to
define or adjust health policies such as the introduction of
Mozambique’s expanded programme of immunization with differ-
ent vaccines (Haemophilus influenzae type b, Pneumococcus) or the
development of the concept of Intermittent Preventive Treatment
for Infants (IPTi) that led to the World Health Organization recom-
mendation of this method as best practice for the control of malaria
among infants. Manhiça’s data can be accessed through a formal
request to Diana Quelhas (diana.quelhas@manhica.net) accompa-
nied by a proposal that will be analysed by the Manhiça HDSS
internal scientific and ethics committees.
