Research

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As an international organisation promoting the exchange and transfer of knowledge, IF recognises and stresses the importance of research and data collection. Research on the incidence is necessary to establish adequate primary prevention systems. Research on the medical and/or rehabilitative care of the conditions can contribute to a better and more cost effective care, in the South as well in the North. Some of the IF projects are already developing research programmes or contributing to the collection of data for future benefit to people with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus in the South as well as in the North.

IF contributes to research projects by contributing in kind, in knowledge and in experience.

List of major IF contributions to research projects:

- Combined endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization for Hydrocephalus in infants and children with special emphasis on the developing world. Dr. Warf, BC

- Quality of life for families with spina bifida in Kenya. Trop Doct.2008; 38: 160-162 by van't Veer et al. under supervision of Dr Poenaru and Dr Bransford

- Clean Intermittent Catheterization: Overview of Results in 194 Patients with Spina Bifida. Agnes Jeruto RN, Dan Poenaru, Richard Brainsford. Published in The African Journal of Paediatric Surgery

- Hydrocephalus in Uganda: the predominance of infectious origin and primary management with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Dr. Warf, BC. Journal of Neurosurgery (Pediatrics 1) 102:1-15, 2005.

- Comparison of 1-year outcomes for the Chhabra and Codman-Hakim Micro Precision shunt systems in Uganda: a prospective study in 195 children, Dr. Warf, BC: J Neurosurg (Pediatrics 4) 102:358-362, 2005

- Comparison of third ventriculostomy alone and in combination with choroid plexus cauterization in infants younger than 1 year of age: a prospective study in 550 African children, Dr. Warf, BC: J Neurosurg (Pediatrics 6) 103:475-481, 2005

- Neural tube defects in Dar es salaam, a preliminary study to provide a working estimate on the incidence and the pattern of neural tube defects at the Muhimbili National Hospital. ADA Kinasha and Karim Manji. Dr. Kinasha won the price for best Poster presentation at the conference of ' the Society for Reserach into Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus', July 2002

In 1999, IF granted a research award in cooperation with the CDI Foundation, and has contributed to the following research projects:

- NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS IN DAR ES SALAAM, a preliminary study to provide a working estimate on the incidence and the pattern of neural tube defects at the Muhimbili National Hospital. ADA Kinasha and Karim Manji

- POST INFECTIOUS HYDROCEPHALUS: The Most Common Cause of Hydrocephalus in Uganda. Benjamin C. Warf, M.D. Lynda MacGowen, R.N.

- ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY: Initial Experience at CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda. Benjamin C. Warf, M.D and Lynda MacGowen, R.N.