MITS in Malawi
Minimally invasive tissue sampling improved cause-of-death attribution among children with acute illness and/or severe malnutrition.
Why this research began
Routine clinical records may not establish why a child died, while full diagnostic autopsy can be difficult in many settings.
What the study asks
Can socially acceptable, needle-based post-mortem sampling improve cause-of-death evidence?
How the research works
Acceptability research preceded needle-based sampling of tissues and body fluids for histopathology and microbiology.
Who contributes
Inpatient child deaths linked to CHAIN research at QECH.
Where it takes place
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre.
Study objectives
Assess acceptability of minimally invasive sampling.
Improve cause-of-death attribution.
Strengthen evidence on infection and malnutrition-related mortality.
Principal and contributing research team
Status and study timeline
- 01Acceptability research
- 02MITS implementation
- 03Laboratory assessment
- 04Cause-of-death review
- 05Published findings
Participating and collaborating institutions
Publications and findings
task_altMITS produced new or refined diagnoses in nearly all studied deaths and improved cause-of-death evidence beyond routine records.
Selected publications will be linked after the study record has been verified and approved.
Related news, documents and contact
Related updates
No related public updates have been published yet.
Study documents
Approved protocols, public summaries and shareable study materials are published through the research resources library.
Browse research resources arrow_forwardResearch contact
Contact MNRG for collaboration, study information or approved document requests.
Contact the research team arrow_forwardWhy it matters
Adding MITS data produced new or refined diagnoses in nearly all studied deaths, improving pathogen and undernutrition-related attribution.