1. DST/ MRC South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN)
Director:
Associate Prof Mark Collinson
SAMRC; Wits University
Deputy Director:
Dr Kobus Herbst
SAMRC; Africa Health Research
Institute

4. Intractable health, social and economic problems:
High levels of inequality (Gini ~ 0.65)
High unemployment rates (27%)
Colliding epidemics of HIV/TB, other chronic illnesses, and injuries
Relevance of a National Research infrastructure:
Provide individualised and household micro-data:
encompassing whole communities
updated on a regular basis
Provide a platform for intervention testing and policy evaluation

5. South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN)
of Health, Demographic and Socio-Economic Surveillance (HDSS) Nodes
Heath, Demographic and Socio-Economic Surveillance (HDSS) Nodes
Existing Nodes
New Nodes to be developed
Eastern Cape, Rural
Western Cape, Urban
Dikgale, Limpopo, Peri-urban
eThekwini, KZN, Urban
Agincourt, Mpumalanga, Rural
AHRI, KZN, Rural
Gauteng, Urban
Data generated:
Standardised, population-based data in geographically-defined sections of impoverished communities
Repeated longitudinal updates of population, health, social and economic data
Population data linked to service utilisation data: health services, schools and civil registration
Applications:
Accurately measure trends in health, population, social and economic indicators, and causal mechanisms
A platform for intervention research and policy evaluation
Calibration and validation of national datasets
Early warning system for dire population issues
Embedding post-graduate training and research career development

6. Africa Health Research Institute HDSS KwaZulu-Natal Province
Dikgale HDSS
Limpopo Province
Started in 1996
Agincourt HDSS
Mpumalanga Province
Started in 1992
Pop:
Pop:
The NRI will improve the evidence base for decision-making: Starting with the first three rural nodes the NRI with immediate impact because it is the amalgamation of the existing research infrastructures in the three existing HDSS nodes.
Africa Health Research Institute HDSS
KwaZulu-Natal Province
Started in 2000
Pop:
4.5 million person years of observation

7. 5 year - Implementation Plan

8. A South African Population Research Infrastructure Node
Nodal Research
(hosting institutions)
Hosted Research
(national research community)
Income from external funding
Computing Services (CHPC +)
Networking Services (SANReN)
Data Services (DIRISA)
National ICT Support
Data Repository
Bio-Repository
Health, Demographic and Socio-Economic Surveillance (HDSS) Node
Household Surveillance
Individual Surveillance
Service Utilisation
Income from DST
Standard Operations & Data

9. Research Agenda:
Routine, ongoing, longitudinal data-collection will occur in key domains of health, social and economic well-being in South Africa’s vulnerable populations.
Population Health
Births and Deaths (by cause)
Disease and risk factor monitoring (HIV, Hypertension and Body Mass Index)
Health care utilisation
Childhood immunisation
Food Security
Social well-being
Household dynamics
Residence Status and migration
Education status and schooling
Economic well-being
Socio-economic status
Labour status
Social protection

10. Key Partners and Beneficiaries
National, regional and international collaborators – universities, research councils, Centres of Excellence, networks (e.g. INDEPTH and SAEON), other RIs
Communities – key partnership with host communities
Policy makers – national, provincial (Presidency, Health, Social Dev, Basic Education, Home Affairs, … )
Statistics South Africa
Local Government- municipal planning across multiple sectors

11. Scientific Productivity
Full bibliography available on-line:

12. Post-graduate capacity development
NRI provides an amazing environment for embedding post graduate students

13. SAPRIN Launch
Official SAPRIN Launch – IUSSP International Population Conference – Cape Town 29Oct-4Nov
1 November 2017 – Africa Day – evening launch
DST Minister; SAMRC; INDEPTH Network
National and international stakeholders, scientists, funders
Pre-conference event
HDSS Data Palooza – 1 day intensive analytic workshop
Providing hands-on experience with HDSS longitudinal data – as a prelude to making data publicly available.