Full Member Birth Cohort

Ifakara Millennium Birth Cohort

Ifakara Millennium Birth Cohort is a Birth Cohort based in Tanzania.

Population: 5,400
Established: 1998
Setting: Mixed
Unit of observation: Individual

Kilombero and Ulanga Districts · Tanzania Cohort site Tanzania

About the cohort

The Ifakara Millennium Birth Cohort is an observational study involving 6,706 children born between January 1, 1998, and August 30, 2000, within the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the Kilombero Valley, Morogoro region, Tanzania. Recruitment occurred during household visits from May 1998 to April 2003, and participants were followed every four months through HDSS visits.

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Data collected included birth details, mosquito net use, parental education, household assets, proximity to health facilities, and access to water and sanitation. From 2004 to 2015, children still residing in the area continued to be monitored for survival and socio-demographic development. In 2019, a follow-up survey was conducted to assess the survival status and development outcomes of all participants, regardless of their current residence.

This survey captured information on participants' education, marital status, and whether they had children. The cohort and HDSS were initially established as part of the Kilombero Net Programme (KINET), which operated between 1996 and 2000 to evaluate the community-wide impact of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) on child morbidity and mortality.

This long-term cohort provides valuable insights into child health, development, and the effectiveness of malaria prevention strategies in rural Tanzania.