Our current research is mostly focused on maternal and child health, with special emphasis on three interrelated conditions: maternal and child malaria and other infections, preterm birth, and childhood malnutrition.
These topics are justified by their relative importance in global health. Approximately 14 million or 10% of all births occur preterm each year, with a major impact of subsequent morbidity and mortality both to the mothers and the children. Under-five year-old children, on the other hand, constitute one of the most vulnerable populations in any society, as indicated e.g. by the approximately 7 million child deaths that take place each year.
Many of our current research projects are formed around clinical trials, but with significant biomedical, public health, and social science components. By combining the various approaches, we wish to produce new knowledge on molecular, environmental and social events leading to health, test new interventions to prevent or manage certain conditions, and provide evidence on the social, economic, and political acceptability of possible interventions. We collaborate with many institutes.
Current research projects
Early ANC – Early antenatal care in Lungwena, Malawi
iLiNS – International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Project
LAIS Offspring – Small vulnerable newborns and the transgenerational cycle of health and development in Malawi
LAKANA – Large-scale Assessment of the Key health-promoting Activities of two New mass drug administration regimens with Azithromycin
MaMa – Motor Assessment in Infants with a Jumpsuit in Mangochi, rural Malawi: feasibility and validity among families
SVN – Small Vulnerable Newborn
Past research projects
HIVIND – The Antiretroviral Roll Out for HIV in India
LAIS – Lungwena Antenatal Intervention Study
LCNI – Lungwena Child Nutrition Intervention Study
LCSS – Lungwena Child Survival Study
MiTeeth
MiTrack