We are pleased to announce the release of our latest white paper, which explores the ethical landscape of child mortality surveillance in Kenya. Developed through the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program, this paper offers a deep dive into the complexities of obtaining voluntary informed consent for Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) in diverse Kenyan communities.

Why This Matters

In regions with high child mortality rates, accurate cause-of-death data is often the “missing link” in creating effective health policies. CHAMPS — a global mortality surveillance network supported by the Gates Foundation and the Hasso Plattner Foundation, with a Program Office at The Taskforce for Global Health — is bridging this gap. In Kenya, our work in Siaya (Karemo) and Kisumu (Manyatta) counties offers a unique perspective on how cultural identity, urban migration, and long-standing research partnerships shape the consent process.

Inside the White Paper:

• The MITS Procedure: Understanding the structured pathway from death notification to expert panel analysis.
• A Tale of Two Sites: A comparative look at the peri-urban, ethnically diverse settlement of Manyatta versus the rural, subsistence-based community of Karemo.
• Cultural Nuances: How the Luo concept of “home” and ancestral burial traditions impact surveillance participation.
• Ethics in Action: How we align with KEMRI regulations to ensure bereaved families are engaged with dignity and clarity.

By sharing the “Kenyan Experience,” we aim to provide a roadmap for global health practitioners to conduct sensitive, ethical, and impactful research that saves lives.

Download the White Paper Here