Birhan maternal and child health cohort: a study protocol

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Demography

Background:

• Reliable estimates of maternal and child morbidity and mortality are crucial for effective health programs and policies.
• There is a significant need for data in populations with the highest disease burden but least research.
• This data is essential for designing and evaluating health interventions to prevent global illnesses and deaths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the Birhan Maternal and Child Health cohort, an open prospective pregnancy and birth cohort.
• To collect comprehensive data on maternal and child health outcomes.
• To calculate the period prevalence and incidence of primary morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Main Methods:

• The Birhan Maternal and Child Health cohort is nested within the Birhan Health and Demographic Surveillance System.
• Approximately 2500 pregnant women are enrolled annually and followed through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
• Newborns are monitored for up to 2 years to assess growth and development, with data collected from home and health facility visits.

Main Results:

• Baseline medical data, signs, symptoms, laboratory results, and anthropometrics are collected.
• Key pregnancy and birth outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight are recorded.
• The study will calculate period prevalence and incidence of primary morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The Birhan Maternal and Child Health cohort is ethically approved and will provide vital data.
• Findings will be disseminated through scientific conferences, peer-reviewed journals, and to stakeholders like the Ministry of Health.
• This research will contribute to evidence-based health strategies for maternal and child populations.