Monitoring and assessing the impact of vaccinations and other childhood interventions for both boys and girls

project summary

  <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Background: Both observational studies and randomised trials (RCT) have documented that vaccines and micronutrients have non-specific effects (NSE) on child mortality. These effects may be even more important than the specific effects. NSEs are often sex-differential. Objective: To optimise vaccine and micronutrient delivery, childhood interventions will need to be evaluated for their overall effect on mortality and morbidity for both sexes, ie. for their NSE as well as their specific effects on the targeted disease/micronutrient deficiency. Activities: As part of PhD projects, monitoring of current health intervention practice will be initiated at 6 INDEPTH Health Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) sites in 4 African countries and India. The PhD projects will then examine variation in implementation of interventions and assess the impact on overall child mortality. Outputs: 5-6 PhDs with a critical perspective on assessment, 4-5 papers per site; increasing understanding that it is necessary to assess NSEof health interventions. Project organization: In collaboration with INDEPTH Network, the Danish team will coordinate the project. Capacity building: Senior scientists at all sites will take part in supervision of the PhD/post-doc projects. Learning from other sites will be an important component of the research training program. Communication: Conferences, int. journals, WHO's Global Advisory Committee Vaccine Safety, donors</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>