PhD. Thesis: “Age Patterns of Mortality within Childhood in Sub-Saharan Africa”. (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London).
MSc. Medical Demography (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London).
BSc. Geography (Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone)
Prizes and Awards
- Selwyn-Clarke Prize for best research project report, MSc Medical Demography (1997/8). Project title: “Adult Mortality in The Gambia: A re-estimation of levels and trends and examination of regional variations”.
- Commonwealth PhD studentship
- African Development Bank/Government of Japan Fellowship (MSc)
Background
Having worked for eight years at The Gambia Family Planning Association, first as Research and Evaluation Officer and then as Programme Manager, Dr Jasseh’s academic research reflects his interest in the rather different field of technical demography, mortality estimation in particular. With the ultimate aim of developing a set of model life tables that adequately describe Sub-Saharan African mortality, his doctoral research set out to establish the range and geographical distribution of prevailing childhood mortality patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa using birth histories contained in 44 national DHS datasets from 26 countries.
Research Activities
Dr Jasseh was appointed to manage the Farafenni Demographic Surveillance System (FDSS) in 2004 following his PhD studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The FDSS, which is a member of the INDEPTH Network, was established in 1981 as a platform for studies of the epidemiology of malaria and trials of primary health care level interventions to reduce malaria morbidity, but has also proved useful for other investigations ranging from anthropological studies of contraceptive use and birth spacing to evaluation of diagnostic techniques, disease patterns and analysis of mortality trends.
Initially he focussed on data quality issues and, in collaboration with the Senior Data Manager, set up the DSS in the Unit’s primary IT-supported database, MS Access. Periodic cross-sectional surveys will be undertaken to collect ancillary socio-economic data at the household level to complement the routine demographic data documented by the system.
Current work at the surveillance site aims at:
- providing precise estimates of disease burden, co-morbidity and mortality within the DSA;
- providing a platform for the design and evaluation of interventions to reduce mortality and morbidity within the DSA;
- using epidemiological and health systems research tools to address equity issues in access to and utilisation of health care; and
- developing robust processes for coordination, identifying opportunities, and disseminating results through involvement of appropriate stakeholders and partners.
Dr Jasseh has established links with the Planning Unit of the Department of State for Health, the leadership of the AFPRC General Hospital in Farafenni, and the Divisional Health Team, North Bank East, as stakeholders in the longitudinal profiling of disease burden in the DSA.
