Longitudinal community studies in Africa: challenges and contributions to health research.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the contributions of longitudinal community studies to health research in Africa as well the challenges faced by the scientists and decision makers who rely o them to guide health policy and practice. The authors begin with an overview of the DSS concept and turn to a discussion of the history of its use in sub-Saharan Africa the contribution of this legacy to the science of demographic surveillance and the technical challenges that are motivating DSS methodological initiatives in Africa. Particular attention is devoted to the emergence and function of the INDEPTH Network an international network of DSS sites involved in demographic and health research; the network is based in Accra.