MIS

Study/research: Which Maternal Infections are associated with stillbirth and early neonatal

PI/PIS: Professor Nega Assefa/ Anna Seal

Lead Institution: Haramaya University and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Implementation Year: 2017-2020

Status of the project: completed-lab analysis is going on

Funder: Wellcome Trust

Project Summary

We propose to provide a robust description of the association of maternal infection with stillbirths and early neonatal deaths, by studying mothers delivering in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar (2017-2020) and Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya (2010-16)

We retrospectively investigate mothers in Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya, from a well-characterized existing maternal cohort (2011-16) in a case-control design (cases=350, controls=500). Laboratory investigation using nucleic acid detection (multiplex PCR TaqMan Array Cards) from stored blood samples will be done at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program laboratories. In Ethiopia, we initiated a prospective study in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, where we will recruit mothers (2017-20) in maternity and test a subset in the same case-control design (cases=350, controls=500). Samples will be taken to include blood, oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs and rectal/vagino-rectal swabs. Laboratory investigation at the College of Health Sciences, Haramaya University, will include both conventional (culture) and nucleic acid detection methods (multiplex PCR TaqMan Array Cards).