The Agincourt field site--evolution and current status.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the evolution and current status of the Agincourt field site, Bushbuckridge, in South Africa's rural north-east.

SETTING

A defined subdistrict, with a population of some 60,000 people including Mozambican refugees, in a former 'homeland' area with substantial labour migration.

APPROACH

Three phases are described: origins and establishment of the field site; a programme of health systems research underpinned by multi-round (prospective) demographic and health surveillance; and contributions to the University of the North's Dikgale field site.

COMMENT

Knowledge of trends in population health (e.g. mortality) is important when shaping the skill base and organisational framework of a district health system. There are valuable opportunities for collaborative research with field sites elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, and within South Africa itself. This will be facilitated by a common data model. A country-wide network of field sites, with surveillance capability, would complement the occasional national census and demographic and health survey, and strengthen South Africa's embryonic health information system.