Young CRESIB Epidemiologist Receives "Enrique Najera" Award

The Spanish Epidemiology Society (Sociedad Española de Epidemiología) has awarded the "Enrique Najera" research grant for a young epidemiologist to Alberto García-Basteiro, a researcher in CRESIB, ISGlobal's research centre, for his protocol "Infant mortality and morbidity associated with prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation in Mozambique: a retrospective cohort study". The grant, which is sponsored by the Carlos III Health Institute National School of Healthcare Science, was announced during the 10th National Meeting of the society held between 17 and 19 October in Santander.

About 60% of neonatal deaths are associated with low birth weight, the main causes of which are preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation. These conditions are responsible for a significant burden of disease and infant mortality, especially in developing countries.

Working under the supervision of Dr Clara Menéndez, the director of ISGlobal's Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health Initiative, Dr García-Basteiro will analyse the prevalence of these conditions and study their impact on morbidity and mortality during the first three years of a child's life. The project is based in the Centro de Investigaçao en Saude de Manhiça in Mozambique.

"This is an observational study designed to ascertain whether these conditions are very common and to study the risk of disease or death in this cohort of children," explains the researcher. "The findings could lead to recommendations on how to improve the management of pregnancy and the clinical follow-up of pregnant patients in this situation."

Dr García-Basteiro, who is 30 years of age and has just completed his residency in Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, has also recently been granted a Río Hortega contract for training in health research.