Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM
Published on: March 2, 2017
The Guinea-Bissau Twin Registry Update: A Platform for Studying Twin Mortality and Metabolic Disease
Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen1,2,3,4, Gabriel Marciano Gomes1, Ditte Egegaard Hennild1,3,5
1Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Insights
Sub-Saharan Africa has high twin birth rates but also high twin mortality. This study established a twin registry in Guinea-Bissau to gather crucial epidemiological data on twin health and metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Reproductive Health
- Global Health
Background:
- Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits the world's highest natural twinning rate.
- High twin mortality persists due to inadequate prenatal, labor, and postnatal care.
- Limited twin studies in the region necessitate urgent epidemiological data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- Establish one of Africa's first twin registries to describe twinning rates and mortality patterns.
- Identify risk factors for twin mortality and hospitalization to aid local clinicians in improving twin health.
- Investigate metabolic disorders in twins, particularly low birth weight infants, in relation to the 'thrifty phenotype hypothesis' and unique African environmental factors.
Main Methods:
- Established a twin registry at the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau in 2009.
- Collected data on twinning rates, mortality patterns, risk factors, and hospitalization among newborn twins.
- Focused on metabolic disorders, considering 'fetal programming' in the context of African nutritional patterns and other influences.
Main Results:
- The Guinea-Bissau twin registry provides essential epidemiological data on twin births and outcomes in the region.
- Identified key factors influencing twin mortality and hospitalization, informing clinical practice.
- Initiated the study of metabolic disorders in African twins, addressing a gap in 'fetal programming' research.
Conclusions:
- The Guinea-Bissau twin registry is a vital resource for understanding and improving twin health in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The registry's data is crucial for addressing high twin mortality and investigating the predisposition to metabolic disorders.
- Further research using the registry will illuminate the impact of unique environmental factors on twin health and development in Africa.
Abstract:
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest natural twinning rate in the world. Unfortunately, due to lack of adequate care during pregnancy, labor and postnatally, twin mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa also remains very high. Thus, it has been estimated that one in five twins dies during the childhood years. In spite of this, surprisingly few twin studies have been conducted in the region, making additional epidemiological data much needed. In 2009, we established one of the first twin registries in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bandim Health Project in Guinea-Bissau. The registry had two main objectives. First, we wanted to describe the twinning rate and mortality patterns among newborn twins, including mortality risk factors and hospitalization patterns. Such studies can help the local clinicians improve twin health by identifying the most vulnerable children. Second, and in light of the rapidly increasing diabetes rates in Africa, we wanted to use the registry to particularly focus on metabolic disorders. Twins are often born with low birth weight, which according to the 'thrifty phenotype hypothesis' could predispose them to metabolic disorders later in life. Yet, no such 'fetal programming' data have previously been available from African twins despite the fact that nutritional patterns and influences from other factors (e.g., infections) could be markedly different here compared to high-income settings. In this article, we summarize the findings and current status of the Guinea-Bissau twin registry.
Related Concept Videos
00:52What is Metabolism?
01:14Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Active Drug, Metabolite and Fraction of Metabolized Drug
01:36Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:25Metabolic Rate
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence...
01:40Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...