GRT-INSPIRED Baseline data

<p dir="ltr"><b>GRT-Inspired HDSS</b></p><p dir="ltr">The GRT-INSPIRED (Gauteng Research Triangle) GRT-I) Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS), established in 2020, monitors the health and wellbeing of an <b>intended cohort of approximately 100 000 people</b> across three urban sites: <b>Hillbrow</b>, <b>Atteridgeville West</b>, and <b>Melusi</b>. Data are collected <b>three times a year</b>—one in-person household interview and two telephonic follow-ups. Each site is managed by a partner institution: the University of Johannesburg (Hillbrow South), Wits RHI (Hillbrow North), and the University of Pretoria (Atteridgeville and Melusi). All data are harmonised and contributed to the national <b>SAPRIN</b> longitudinal database.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Baseline enumeration was conducted between 2021 and 2022</b>, during which teams completed the initial count of <b>dwellings, households, and individuals</b> across the three sites. This period established the foundation of the cohort, confirmed residence patterns, mapped the study area, and provided the first comprehensive snapshot of demographic and socio-economic indicators. This baseline now serves as the reference point for all subsequent longitudinal follow-up.</p><p dir="ltr">The platform aims to track <b>population health</b>, <b>social wellbeing</b>, and <b>economic conditions</b> over time. Core objectives include documenting births, deaths, and migration; monitoring household composition; tracking education outcomes; measuring socio-economic status; and assessing labour participation and the uptake of social protection measures.</p><p dir="ltr">Data collection includes a household survey component and a verbal autopsy system for all deaths. The three study areas reflect diverse urban realities—from Hillbrow’s dense high-rise environment to the mixed formal and informal dwellings of Atteridgeville, to the rapidly growing informal settlement of Melusi—providing a broad picture of urban demographic and health dynamics.</p>