HEALTH & DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM PROFILE Profile: Agincourt Health and Socio-demographic Surveillance System

The Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system (HDSS), located in rural northeast South Africa close to the Mozambique border, was established in 1992 to support district health systems development led by the post-apartheid ministry of health. The HDSS (90 000 people), based on an annual update of resident status and vital events, now supports multiple investiga-tions into the causes and consequences of complex health, popula-tion and social transitions. Observational work includes cohorts focusing on different stages along the life course, evaluation of national policy at population, household and individual levels and examination of household responses to shocks and stresses and th