NAVRONGO HEALTH RESEARCH CENTRE

INFORMING HEALTH POLICY THROUGH RESEARCH Strategic Location of DSS Sites e r i o v I o ' g d

o e T t o C

Dangbe West Kassena-Nankana Kintampo

50 0 50 100 150 200 250 Kilometers Kassena - Nankana District showing the major villages N Burkina Faso

# # Manyoro # Kayoro

Upper West Region # Kandiga #Y# Bolga District

# Chiana # Doba # Ketiu

# Nakong

Builsa District # Kologo

South Zone # Naga West Zone East Zone North Zone District Boundary -

Northern Region Characteristics of Kassena- Nankana District • Land Area: 1674 km2 • Population: 147,500 (under surveillance) – 90% rural • Economy: subsistent agriculture • Ecology: sahelian – savannah woodland – one rainy season • People: bi-ethnic (Kassena and Nankani) Figure 1. Population pyramid for Navrongo DSS, 2005

85+ 80-84 75-79 Some indicators – 2005 70-74 65-69 IMR = 65.1 60-64 55-59 Female TFR = 4.1 50-54 Male 45-49 40-44 Life expectancy = 57.8 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19

10-14 5-9 0-4

-8.00 -6.00 -4.00 -2.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 Percent of Population From VAST to NHRC

The Vitamin A Supplementation IN Navrongo Health Trial (VAST), 1992 Research Centre came to an end. (NHRC), started. ROSS BINKA NHRC’S MISSION

To research into priority health problems facing Ghana and inform policy decisions on appropriate interventions NHRC’S RESEARCH FOCUS

• Malaria • Diarrhoea • Meningitis • Reproductive health • General population dynamics • Community-based health delivery strategies COMPLETED STUDIES - I

• Malaria related – Bednet trial – Malaria attack rates studies – Etaquine trial – Rectal Artesunate trial – Malaria case control study – Intermittent treatment of malaria in infants – Intermittent treatment of malaria in pregnancy COMPLETED STUDIES - II

• Reproductive Health related – Navrongo Community Health and Family Planning project – Female Genital Mutilation project – Maternal mortality studies

• Other studies – CSM vaccine trial RESEARCH RESOURCES

• District-wide demographic surveillance • Access to district health facilities (hospital, health centres and health compounds) • Laboratory facilities • Internet facilities • Independent ethics review committee • Multi-disciplinary scientific staff • Network of collaborators COLLABORATORS & FUNDERS

• Rockefeller Foundation • Population Council / USAID • Ghana Health Service • WHO • UNICEF • University of Ghana • Swiss Tropical Institute • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine • US National Institute of Health • US Navy • INDEPTH Network MAJOR STUDIES THAT INFORMED HEALTH POLICY - I

• Vitamin A Supplementation Trial (1989-1992) • Insecticide-treated bednet trial (1993-1995) • Navrongo Community Health and Family Planning Project (1994-2003) VITAMIN A TRIAL

• Vitamin A Supplementation Trial (1989-1992) – Impact of repeated large doses of vitamin A on child survival – 20% reduction in under five mortality – National policy on distribution of vitamin A to children under five years BEDNET TRIAL

• Impact of sleeping under insecticide treated bednet on child survival

• 17% reduction in child mortality

• National policy on use of ITNs especially by children and pregnant women NAVRONGO COMMUNITY HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING PROJECT • Test the fertility and mortality impact of restructuring health service delivery at the community level

• Reduction in fertility by one birth

• Reduction in child mortality by 40%

• National policy on Community- based Health Planning and Services ONGOING STUDIES

• Human Rota virus vaccine (RotaTeq) trial • Meningitis vaccine trial • Adolescent sexual and reproductive health study • Cerebrospinal meningitis surveillance • IPTi Acceptability Study • Birth cohort study • Home management of malaria CONCLUSION

• Accurate data on effective health technologies and interventions are required to inform policy • Consistent findings from diverse settings make a stronger case • NHRC research has added to the evidence base on critical health interventions • Policies that have been informed by NHRC research contribute to improving access to basic health care APPRECIATION

• Government of Ghana • People of the Kassena-Nankana District • Funders • Collaborators • Staff of NHRC How to contact us

• Website: www.navrongo.org • Phone: +233-742-22310; 22380 • Fax: +233-742-22320 • Emails: [email protected] or [email protected] Thank you