BabyGel - A cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of household alcohol-based handrub for the prevention of sepsis, diarrhoea and pneumonia in Ugandan infants
Norwegian experts to help halt new born infections and deaths in Africa.
Main content
Specialists at the Centre for International Health (CIH) and CISMAC, at the University of Bergen are to help lead the fight against new born infections and deaths in African countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 12 children will die before their 5th birthday, with infection the most common cause. Researchers from CIH /CISMAC will be partners in a study that will be based in Uganda. The study has received a 5.9million Euro (拢5.2m/$6.7m) to encourage use of a life-saving hygiene gel made from locally grown sugar cane.
In poorer parts of rural Africa, there is often very little sanitation in homes. With few flushing toilets or hand washing facilities, infection spreads very easily and leads to high rates of infections in children. The BabyGel study will test whether the use of sterilising alcohol hand rub in communities can prevent infections in new born babies.
Project rationale
The University of Liverpool鈥檚 , who is leading the project, said:
- 鈥淭rying to find ways to prevent infection in the home is very difficult. Researchers have put toilets and sinks into many villages, but found that they are rarely used.
- 鈥淎lcohol-based hand rub however is cheap, highly effective, and can be made locally in Uganda from sugar cane. Women love it for the effect it has on their hands - it has proved to be very popular.
- 鈥淭his large, randomised trial will show whether it also prevents infections in newborns. If it can, then we will be looking to include it in delivery packs for every expectant mother鈥�.
Trial details
The randomised trial will take place in Mbale District, eastern Uganda over the next five years. It will be run by the , in collaboration with the .
The funding randomized control trial, entitled BabyGel, will be led by at the . Professors Thorkild Tyllesk盲r and Ingunn Engebretsen from CIH / CISMAC at the University of Bergen will participate in the project, undertaking postgraduate training, while doctors from Makerere University, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Mbale Hospital, the University of Exeter and Busitema University will provide expert input.
Learn more about the BabyGel study from .
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This project is part of the supported by the European Union
About the Project
Project name:听BabyGel - A cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of household alcohol-based handrub for the prevention of sepsis, diarrhoea and pneumonia in Ugandan infants
Period:
Project leader:听 at the
幸运飞艇计划 researchers:听Professors Thorkild Tyllesk盲r, Ingunn Engebretsen听and听Melf Kuhl听
Funding:听
Partners: 幸运飞艇计划,听Makerere University, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Mbale Hospital, the University of Exeter and Busitema University听
Website:听
