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 of children with spina bifida in Kenya is not related to the degree of the spinal defects. Cornegé-Blokland, Jansen, de Jong-de Vos van Steenwijk and Dan Poenaru: Trop Med and Int Health 2011.

- 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

- The incidence and pattern of neural tube defects in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ADA Kinasha and Karim Manji. Dr. Kinasha won the price for best Poster presentation at the conference of ' the Society for Research into Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus', July 2002