Taabo
Taabo
History
Creation context
The Tiassalé health district was chosen to establish the Taabo HDSS, particularly the area around the Bandama River. Previous research conducted in this socio-ecological system revealed a substantial increase in urogenital schistosomiasis among school-aged children living in the immediate vicinity. Interventions targeting four neglected tropical diseases (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and helminths) were considered as a priority. In order to provide systematic and measurable support for these interventions, it is necessary to take stock of the situation, and then to conduct an in-depth and cyclical analysis of both the health status of the populations (perceived morbidity) and the performance of the public health system from the dual perspective of the system itself and the populations. Thus, the HDSS as a key instrument for rigorous monitoring of health system performance and for assessing health progress was implemented. It is a tool based on the rigorous collection of demographic and health data that also allows for the equitable management of resources and a better appreciation of possible modifications or improvements following the various interventions. The Tiassale Health District made available a former maternity building of the Taabo Hospital, which became the site's headquarters. By mid-2008, the Taabo HDSS team was complete and field operations were launched.
Four partner institutions built the Taabo HDSS: the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS), the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (FHB), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and the NGO Fairmed.
Since its creation, the Taabo HDSS has been continuously monitoring a geographically defined population in order to understand all demographic movements (births, deaths, migrations). The HDSS, through the production of high quality longitudinal data, particularly on health and demographics, collected from target populations, can help fill information gaps.
Objectives
General Objective
The Taabo HDSS was created to serve as a platform for evaluating interventions and strengthening health systems, with the ultimate goal of reducing mortality and morbidity, particularly from malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
The specific objectives of the Taabo HDSS are:
- To establish quality data on the demographic, epidemiological, and socioeconomic characteristics of communities in the Taabo area and to monitor changes over time;
- To generate evidence that can guide community-level interventions and monitoring of integrated malaria and NTD control approaches in the Taabo area and subsequently in other parts of Côte d'Ivoire and sub-Saharan Africa;
- To conduct interdisciplinary research and foster capacity building in clinical, ecological, entomological, epidemiological, malacological, nutritional, public health, social science and health systems research;
- And to create a platform that provides high quality data for multi-site comparative analysis within the INDEPTH (International
- Network of field sites with continuous Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in developing countries) network.
Scientific opportunities
Recruitment: The Taabo HDSS provides a unique platform for research, as well as teaching and training of MSc, MD, PhD and postdoctoral fellows from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and cultures.
Affordable theme on the site : The HDSS is a dynamic platform for other specific studies conducted in the same geographical area. The site is open to all areas that can contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of the population. Depending on the demand, the collection tools can be easily adapted. The database is a powerful sampling frame allowing the reconciliation of different confounding variables, and the measurement of the demographic or health impact of interventions.
Responsible for
- The supervisory directorate of the HDSS Station is the Resources and Valorization Directorate (DRV).
- Name, first name, function, home institution, contact
- Dr. DAO Daouda, DRV; Université Félix Houphouët; 00 225 07 78 26 67 30; daouda.dao@csrs.ci
- Siaka Koné Site Manager; CSRS; 00 225 07 49069627; siaka.kone@csrs.ci
Geographic location and population
The Taabo HDSS is located in the Agnéby-Tiassa region of Côte d'Ivoire, about 160 km of paved road northwest of the economic capital Abidjan and 60 km south of Yamoussoukro. The Taabo HDSS covers an area of about 980 km2 located between 6° 0' and 6° 20' North latitude and between 4° 55' and 5°15' West longitude.
The Taabo HDSS is located in the V-Baoulé, where the tropical forest in the south meets the savanna in the north (Figure 1). There are two rainy seasons: the long rains last from April to July and the shorter rains in September and October. One of the main eco-epidemiological features of the Taabo HDSS is a large embankment dam (maximum length: 7.5 km) built on the Bandama River in the late 1970s, which forms a reservoir with an area of about 69 km2 . The dam was built for hydroelectric power generation.
The population is composed of Ivorians (72%) and non-Ivorians (28%). According to the first round of monitoring in 2009, the main Ivorian ethnic groups are Akan (85.6%, mainly Baoule), followed by Gur (5.5%), Krou (4.2%), Mandé du Nord (3.3%) and Mandé du Sud (1.4%). The non-Ivorian population is mainly composed of Burkinabe (70.6%) and Malians (23.3%). In the study area, there are eight health facilities, including seven health centers and dispensaries in the rural area, and a 12-bed hospital located in Taabo-Cite. To date, the HDSS monitors a population of more than 45,000 people living in more than 8,000 households in 14 localities and more than 130 camps and hamlets.
Figure 1 : Location of the monitoring area
Premises and facilities
The HDSS has:
- A building with 4 offices, a data entry (computer) room
- A courtyard equipped with brewers and chairs
- A building composed of lodgings (3 air-conditioned rooms equipped with beds, electricity, and running water)
- A research building (with 3 offices, a room used as a laboratory, a meeting room)
- Two (02) storage containers
Figure 2 : Research building in Taabo
Figure 3 : HDSS premises
Services of the site
The Taabo HDSS commands an interdisciplinary team of demographers, statisticians, database managers, and surveyors. The Taabo HDSS has moved from paper surveys to tablet surveys. This technological leap allows for near-real-time access to survey data. Moreover, remote access to the server allows consultation and analysis regardless of the user's geographical location. The services provided by the HDSS are diverse and include epidemiological surveys, household surveys, verbal autopsies, demographic surveillance, health interventions, clinical trials, research projects in general, data collection and management, auditing and statistical analysis of survey data, support to intervention and research projects, etc.
Interaction with local populations
The CSRS workers on the site maintain a relationship of open collaboration with the local populations. When the HDSS was created, all local community representatives (administrative authorities, customary authorities, religious authorities) were involved in defining the main health priorities. In order to perpetuate this collaboration, the HDSS field agents live on a daily basis in the communities of the entire surveillance area. Within the framework of the collaboration, the HDSS supports, guides and organizes the populations in their health care. In addition, feedback sessions are organized with all the communities to share information on the major demographic trends of the moment and the results of specific research projects.
Social actions
The CSRS management is always invited to the events (happy and unhappy) of the village. It is always present at the highest level or is represented. Assistance is also often provided to grieving families. In addition, through research and intervention projects, the HDSS has carried out construction and health education in the communities.
Benefits of choosing HDSS for your projects
The HDSS has several advantages that make it special in terms of research opportunities and support for research and intervention projects. Among others, we could mention the following:
- Use of tablets for surveys, which allows for quicker availability of data;
- Continuous updating of socio-demographic information on a population of over 45,000 inhabitants;
- Geographical coordinates and socio-economic characteristics of more than 8,000 households;
- Permanent team: statistician, database manager, field manager, interviewers, supervisors, data entry operators;
- Good collaboration with communities and administrative, customary and religious authorities;
- Dynamic platform for research, evaluation, planning, teaching, training of Master, PhD, and Postdoc students in various fields;
- Easy study site selection and study group assignment;
- Use of trained fieldworkers familiar with the community (interviews and sample collection assistance);
- Use of local key informants to relay information and conduct health education.
Some publications from work on the site
Fürst T, Silué KD, Ouattara M, Adiossan LG, N’Goran DN, Yao AJ, Koné S, N’Goran EK, Utzinger J & Bogoch II (2013). Patients routinely report more symptoms to experienced field enumerators than physicians in rural Côte d’Ivoire. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 89: 592-596.
Schmidlin T, Hürlimann E, Silué KD, Yapi R, Houngbedji C, Kouadio BA, Acka-Douabélé CA, Kouassi D, Ouattara M, Zouzou F, Bonfoh B, N’Goran EK, Utzinger J & Raso G (2013). Effects of hygiene and defecation behavior on helminths and intestinal protozoa infections in Taabo, Côte d’Ivoire. PLoS One 8: e65722.
Fürst T, Ouattara M, Silué KD, N’Goran DN, Adiossan LG, Bogoch II, N’Guessan Y, Koné S, Utzinger J & N’Goran EK (2013). Scope and limits of an anamnestic questionnaire in a control-induced low-endemicity helminthiasis setting in south-central Côte d’Ivoire. PLoS One 8: e64380.
Righetti AA, Wegmüller R, Glinz D, Ouattara M, Adiossan LG, N’Goran EK, Utzinger J & Hurrell RF (2013). The effect of inflammation and Plasmodium infection on soluble transferrin receptor and ferritin concentration in different age groups: a prospective longitudinal study in Côte d’Ivoire. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 97: 1364-1374.
Righetti AA, Adiossan LG, Ouattara M, Glinz D, Hurrell RF, N’Goran EK, Wegmüller R & Utzinger J (2013). Dynamics of anemia in relation to parasitic infections, micronutrient status, and growing age in south-central Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Infectious Diseases 207: 1604-1615.
Kouadio MKD, Righetti AA, Abé NN, Wegmüller R, Weiss MG, N’Goran EK & Utzinger J (2013). Local concepts of anemia-related illnesses and public health implications in the Taabo health demographic surveillance system, south-central Côte d’Ivoire. BMC Hematology 13: 5.
Glinz D, Hurrell RF, Righetti AA, Zeder C, Adiossan LG, Tjalsma H, Utzinger J, Zimmermann MB, N’Goran EK &Wegmüller R (2015). In Ivorian children, infection with hookworm or Schistosoma haematobium does not reduce dietary iron absorption or systemic iron utilization, while afebrile Plasmodium falciparum infection reduces iron absorption by half. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (in press).
Koné S, Baikoro N, N’Guessan Y, Jaeger FN, Silué KD, Fürst T, Hürlimann E, Ouattara M, Séka MCY, N’Guessan NA, Esso ELJC, Zouzou F, Boti LI, Gonety PT, Adiossan LG, Dao D, Tschannen AB, von Stamm T, Bonfoh B, Tanner M, Utzinger J, N’Goran EK (2015). Health and Demographic Surveillance Profile: The Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d’Ivoire. International Journal of Epidemiology (in press; doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu221).
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Hanifi SMA, Alam N, Millogo O, Sié A, Zabré P, Rossier C, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Kone S, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Abera SF, Melaku YA, Weldearegawi B, Gomez P, Jasseh M, Ansah P, Azongo D, Kondayire F, Oduro A, Amu A, Gyapong M, Kwarteng O, Kant S, Pandav CS, Rai SK, Juvekar S, Muralidharan V, Wahab A, Wilopo S, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Khagayi S, Laserson KF, Nyaguara A, Van Eijk AM, Ezeh A, Kyobutungi C, Wamukoya M, Chihana M, Crampin A, Price A, Delaunay V, Diallo A, Douillot L, Sokhna C, Gómez-Olivé FX, Mee P, Tollman SM, Herbst K, Mossong J, Chuc NTK, Arthur SS, Sankoh OA &Byass P (2014). HIV/AIDS-related mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH health and demographic surveillance system sites. Global Health Action 7: 25370.
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Hanifi SMA, Alam N, Diboulo E, Sié A, Yé M, Compaoré Y, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Jaeger F, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Melaku YA, Mulugeta A, Weldearegawi B, Gomez P, Jasseh M, Hodgson A, Oduro A, Welaga P, Williams J, Awini E, Binka FN, Gyapong M, Kant S, Misra P, Srivastava R, Chaudhary B, Juvekar S, Wahab A, Wilopo S, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Hamel MJ, Lindblade KA, Odhiambo FO, Slutsker L, Ezeh A, Kyobutungi C, Wamukoya M, Delaunay V, Diallo A, Douillot L, Sokhna C, Gómez-Olivé FX, Kabudula CW, Mee P, Herbst K, Mossong J, Chuc NTK, Arthur SS, Sankoh OA, Tanner M &Byass P (2014). Malaria mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH health and demographic surveillance system sites. Global Health Action 7: 25369.
Streatfield PK, Alam N, Compaoré Y, Rossier C, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Jaeger F, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Gomez P, Jasseh M, Ansah A, Debpuur C, Oduro A, Williams J, Addei S, Gyapong M, Kukula VA, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Desai M, Moige H, Odhiambo FO, Ogwang S, Beguy D, Ezeh A, Oti S, Chihana M, Crampin A, Price A, Delaunay V, Diallo A, Douillot L, Sokhna C, Collinson MA, Kahn K, Tollman SM, Herbst K, Mossong J, Emina JBO, Sankoh OA &Byass P (2014). Pregnancy-related mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites. Global Health Action 7: 25368.
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Hanifi SMA, Alam N, Diboulo E, Niamba L, Sié A, Lankoandé B, Millogo R, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Kone S, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Ashebir Y, Melaku YA, Weldearegawi B, Gomez P, Jasseh M, Azongo D, Oduro A, Wak G, Wontuo P, Attaa-Pomaa M, Gyapong M, Manyeh AK, Kant S, Misra P, Rai SK, Juvekar S, Patil R, Wahab A, Wilopo S, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Khaggayi C, Nyaguara A, Obor D, Odhiambo FO, Ezeh A, Oti S, Wamukoya M, Chihana M, Crampin A, Collinson MA, Kabudula CW, Wagner R, Herbst K, Mossong J, Emina JBO, Sankoh OA &Byass P (2014). Mortality from external causes in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance System Sites. Global Health Action 7: 25366.
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Hanifi SMA, Alam N, Bagagnan CH, Sié A, Zabré P, Lankoandé B, Rossier C, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Kone S, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Haile F, Melaku YA, Weldearegawi B, Gomez P, Jasseh M, Ansah P, Debpuur C, Oduro A, Wak G, Adjei A, Gyapong M, Sarpong D, Kant S, Misra P, Rai SK, Juvekar S, Lele P, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Laserson KF, Nyaguara A, Odhiambo FO, Phillips-Howard P, Ezeh A, Kyobutungi C, Oti S, Crampin A, Nyirenda M, Price A, Delaunay V, Diallo A, Douillot L, Sokhna C, Gómez-Olivé FX, Kahn K, Tollman SM, Herbst K, Mossong J, Chuc NTK, Bangha M, Sankoh OA &Byass P (2014). Adult non-communicable disease mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites. Global Health Action 7: 25365.
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Hanifi SMA, Alam N, Ouattara M, Sanou A, Sié A, Lankoandé B, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Jaeger F, Ngoran EK, Utzinger J, Abreha L, Melaku YA, Weldearegawi B, Ansah A, Hodgson A, Oduro A, Welaga P, Gyapong M, Narh CT, Narh-Bana SA, Kant S, Misra P, Rai SK, Bauni E, Mochamah G, Ndila C, Williams TN, Hamel MJ, Ngulukyo E, Odhiambo FO, Sewe M, Beguy D, Ezeh A, Oti S, Diallo A, Douillot L, Sokhna C, Delaunay V, Collinson MA, Kabudula CW, Kahn K, Herbst K, Mossong J, Chuc NTK, Bangha M, Sankoh OA, Byass P (2014). Cause-specific childhood mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH health and demographic surveillance system sites. Global Health Action 7: 25363.
Streatfield PK, Khan WA, Bhuiya A, Alam N, Sié A, Soura AB, Bonfoh B, Ngoran EK, Weldearegawi B, Jasseh M, Oduro A, Gyapong M, Kant S, Juvekar S, Wilopo S, Williams TN, Odhiambo FO, Beguy D, Ezeh A, Kyobutungi C, Crampin A, Delaunay V, Tollman SM, Herbst K, Chuc NT, Sankoh OA, Tanner M, Byass P (2014). Cause-specific mortality in Africa and Asia: evidence from INDEPTH health and demographic surveillance system sites.Global Health Action7:25362.
Sankoh O, Sharrow D, Herbst K, WhitesonKabudula C, Alam N, Kant S, Ravn H, Bhuiya A, ThiVui L, Darikwa T, Gyapong M, Jasseh M, ChucThi Kim N, Abdullah S, Crampin A, Ojal J, Owusu-Agyei S, Odhiambo F, Urassa M, Streatfield K, Shimada M, Sacoor C, Beguy D, Derra K, Wak G, Delaunay V, Sie A, Soura A, Diallo D, Wilopo S, Masanja H, Bonfoh B, Phuanukoonnon S, Clark SJ (2014). The INDEPTH standard population for low- and middle-income countries, 2013.Global Health Action 7:23286.
Keiser J, Silué KD, Adiossan LK, N’Guessan NA, Monsan N, Utzinger J &N’Goran EK (2014). Praziquantel, mefloquine-praziquantel, and mefloquine-artesunate-praziquantel against Schistosoma haematobium: randomized, exploratory, open-label trial. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 8: e2975.
Hürlimann E, Yapi RB, Houngbedji CA, Schmidlin T, Kouadio BA, Silué KD, Ouattara M, N’Goran EK, Utzinger J, Raso G (2014) The epidemiology of polyparasitism and implications for morbidity in two rural communities of Côte d’Ivoire. Parasites & Vectors 7: 81.
Koné S, Bonfoh B, Dao D, Koné Z, Fink G (2018). Heckman-type Selection Models to Obtain Unbiased Estimates with Missing Measures Outcome: Theoretical Considerations and an Application to Missing Birth Weight Data. International Journal of Epidemiology (in press).
Koné, S., Hürlimann, E., Baikoro, N., Dao, D., Bonfoh, B., N'Goran, E. K., Utzinger, J., … Jaeger, F. N. (2018). Pregnancy-related morbidity and risk factors for fatal foetal outcomes in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d'Ivoire. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 18(1), 216. doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1858-2.
Raso, G., Essé, C., Dongo, K., Ouattara, M., Zouzou, F., Hürlimann, E., Koffi, V. A., Coulibaly, G., Mahan, V., Yapi, R. B., Koné, S., Coulibaly, J. T., Meïté, A., Guéhi-Kabran, M. C., Bonfoh, B., N'Goran, E. K., … Utzinger, J. (2018). An Integrated Approach to Control Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis, Schistosomiasis, Intestinal Protozoa Infection, and Diarrhea: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Trial. JMIR research protocols, 7(6), e145. doi:10.2196/resprot.9166.
Eze IC, Esse C, Bassa FK, Koné S, Acka F, Yao L, Imboden M, Jaeger FN, Schindler C, Dosso M, Laubhouet-Koffi V, Kouassi D, N’Goran EK, Utzinger J, Bonfoh B, Probst-Hensch N. Côte d’Ivoire Dual Burden of Disease (CoDuBu): Study Protocol to Investigate the Co-occurrence of Chronic Infections and Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Settings of Epidemiological Transition. JMIR Res Protoc 2017; 6(10):e210.
Koné S, Fürst T, Jaeger FN, et al. Causes of death in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, Côte d’Ivoire, from 2009 to 2011. Global Health Action. 2015;8:10.3402/gha.v8.27271. doi:10.3402/gha.v8.27271.