Cohort Profile: Kimpese Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The article focuses on the establishment and operation of the Kimpese Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, designed to collect detailed demographic, health, and socio-economic data within the Kimpese Health Zone. Initiated in 2017 by the Kimpese Health Research Centre, the HDSS conducts annual censuses and updates to monitor births, deaths, migrations, pregnancies, and vaccinations among approximately 60,000 residents across 15,468 households. Data collection employs electronic tools and direct household interviews, enabling longitudinal tracking of population dynamics and health indicators such as mortality and fertility rates. The system supports various epidemiological studies and aims to inform evidence-based health policies, though it faces challenges including funding constraints, infrastructure limitations, and data processing delays. Researchers interested in accessing the cohort data can request it from the Kimpese Health Research Centre.