GRT-INSPIRED Baseline data

GRT-Inspired HDSSThe GRT-INSPIRED (Gauteng Research Triangle) GRT-I) Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS), established in 2020, monitors the health and wellbeing of an intended cohort of approximately 100 000 people across three urban sites: Hillbrow, Atteridgeville West, and Melusi. Data are collected three times a year—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 SAPRIN longitudinal database.Baseline enumeration was conducted between 2021 and 2022, during which teams completed the initial count of dwellings, households, and individuals 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.The platform aims to track population health, social wellbeing, and economic conditions 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.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.