Knowledge Generation

With this proposal, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of distribution of chewing gums and/or gummy bear snacks containing at least one polyol on the primary prevention of periodontal disease in association with PTB and SGA births through the rural expansion of our current established community-based health care efforts in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Iron deficiency is a major contributor to maternal death. Improving the health of women through iron fortification of a universally consumed food vehicle will result in significant saving of lives at birth. Tea is universally consumed in South Asia; however, iron forms complexes in tea, reducing bioavailability, and thus thwarting earlier fortification attempts. Our approach will make tea viable as an iron fortification vehicle.

Muriel Vray of Institut Pasteur of Dakar in Senegal will evaluate a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP), a simple, robust and inexpensive nucleic acid amplification assay, to quantify/semi-quantify hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels in Senegal. In the first step, they will validate the assay in a reference laboratory in Dakar, compared with the reference standard PCR assay. In the second step, they will validate the assay in a decentralized context at a rural health center in Senegal. They will also evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the use of LAMP.

Diawo Diallo of Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal will validate and implement a timely and up-to-date surveillance system of zika virus prevalence in the mosquito population in the Kédougou area using an innovative integrated device developed by Gopaul from Institut Pasteur in Paris. This 3-in-1 device includes a mosquito trap, an analysis station that will carry an antibody-based detection system with an easy to read color change result and a mapping software to create a real-time map of arbovirus infected mosquitoes.

Eric Ogola of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science & Technology proposes to reduce deaths in young children by developing an easier way to decide which antibiotic to use in blood-borne infections in children less than one month old. This will lead to judicious use of antibiotics and prevent the development of drug resistance. Clinicians in health facilities without laboratories will be able to make an educated guess on the best treatment that is likely to give an effective outcome.

Jesse Gitaka of Mount Kenya University in Kenya will lead the development and deployment of a point-of-care diagnostic for bacterial infections that have been implicated in poor pregnancy outcomes such as premature deliveries, still births, maternal and newborn sepsis and deaths. Their project will enable quick detection of these bacteria allowing for prompt treatment. They will test whether treating for these bacterial infections, which are usually not diagnosed, improves pregnancy outcomes in field situations.

Maria Conceicao do Rosário from Universidade Federal de São Paulo in Brazil will assess the effect of mother and teacher support programs in pre-schools in poor districts of São Paulo on the physical and emotional well-being of families, and on early childhood development. Many poor communities in Brazil suffer from high levels of urban violence and adult mental illness that affect the healthy development and well-being of children.

Mauricio Lima Barreto from Fiocruz in Brazil will evaluate the impact of social and economic inequalities, and the national family allowance program (Bolsa Familia), on healthy births and early childhood health and development. They will setup a cohort, which will be derived from a central database of named households created to support Brazil's social programs, and a data center for the analysis. They will use a variety of demographic, economic and social data on families, as well as information on births and childhood deaths, and child growth.

Iná da Silva dos Santos from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil will develop a simple, low-cost strategy targeting mothers to ensure young children get enough sleep. Inadequate sleep is more common in children from low-resource households, and can negatively impact their physical and mental health, including their cognitive development. Children can be encouraged to sleep well by creating a restful environment and helping them learn to get to sleep by themselves. They will perform a randomized controlled study with around 500 mothers of infants aged three months.

Rita de Cássia Silveira from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre in Brazil will develop and test a program for families with preterm infants to follow at home to improve the child's cognitive, motor and social development. Preterm infants (those born with less than 37 weeks of gestation) can suffer a variety of complications due to incomplete brain, lung and eye development, which can cause long-term problems.