The International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and their Health (INDEPTH), the Importance of Core Support

INDEPTH is a network of 37 health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) sites based in the developing world that was set up by its members to raise their research productivity by sharing experience and skills and mounting multi-site research projects. This vision has proved relevant. INDEPTH has developed into a well-established network over the past decade and made effective progress toward these goals, but needs to continue to promote the conduct of more and better quality research using these HDSS data. This report suggests some changes to INDEPTH’s structures and working procedures that should enable it to function more efficiently. It also identifies some challenges that the Network should address in order to enhance its achievements and further increase its scientific and policy impact