Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa
Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic studies (AWI-Gen) was established to examine genomic, environmental and behavioural factors influencing body composition and cardiometabolic diseases and traits in African populations. Population-based longitudinal cohort, involving four sub-Saharan African countries representing rural and urban settings: West Africa [Nanoro (Burkina Faso) and Navrongo (Ghana)]; East Africa [Nairobi (Kenya)]; and South Africa (Agincourt, Dikgale/DIMAMO and Soweto). Baseline data collected from 2013 to 2017, enrolling 12 032 adults [55.1% women; mean (SD) 51.9 (8.3) years, range 37-82], with follow-up ∼5 years later and a retention rate of almost 60%. In Wave 2 an additional 579 individuals were enrolled (n = 7804; 55.9% women; 57.0 (7.9), 39-98). Main categories of data collected at two time points include sociodemographic characteristics, history of chronic diseases and lifestyle behaviours, with spirometry, cognition and frailty added in the second data collection wave. Measurements at both time points include anthropometry, blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and body fat distribution. Blood and urine samples are collected to measure biomarkers for diabetes, HIV, dyslipidaemia and kidney disease, and stool samples are collected in a women's sub-sample for gut microbiome analyses. Genome-wide genotyping is available for all participants and whole genome sequences for a subset. We encourage collaboration, and data are accessible through the AWI-Gen Principal Investigator in consultation with the steering committee or the H3Africa Data and Biospecimen Access Committee. Int J Epidemiol. 2024 Dec 16;54(1):dyae173. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyae173. Cohort Profile: Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic studies (AWI-Gen) in four sub-Saharan African countries.
We do not have a dedicated URL: This is our methods paper that describes the cohort. Ali SA, Soo C, Agongo G, Alberts M, Amenga-Etego L, Boua RP, Choudhury A, Crowther NJ, Depuur C, Gómez-Olivé FX, Guiraud I, Haregu TN, Hazelhurst S, Kahn K, Khayeka-Wandabwa C, Kyobutungi C, Lombard Z, Mashinya F, Micklesfield L, Mohamed SF, Mukomana F, Nakanabo-Diallo S, Natama HM, Ngomi N, Nonterah EA, Norris SA, Oduro AR, Somé AM, Sorgho H, Tindana P, Tinto H, Tollman S, Twine R, Wade A, Sankoh O, Ramsay M. Genomic and environmental risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases in Africa: methods used for Phase 1 of the AWI-Gen population cross-sectional study. Glob Health Action. 2018;11(sup2):1507133. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2018.1507133. PMID: 30259792; PMCID: PMC6161608.
This cohort follows a population of approximately 12477 participants in mixed settings across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, covering 40–60 years. Detailed population coverage is to be confirmed with the custodian.
Genomics, Cardiometabolic traits - genetic epidemiology, Population genetics
Lead institution(s): University of the Witwatersrand
Maintenance: Other, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Hosted studies: Other, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
H3Africa data sharing policy - We also have an AWI-Gen governance document for collaboration.
Cohort contact: available through the APCC Secretariat.
Nairobi Urban HDSS, DIMAMO Population Health Research Centre, Nanoro HDSS, Agincourt HDSS, Navrongo HDSS, Birth to Thirty
Custodian validation status: requires custodian validation
No outstanding validation items recorded.
Summary provenance: Deterministic summary generated strictly from DuckDB-derived fields: cohort name, cohort type, countries, cohort size, setting, age group. No external facts were added; missing fields are shown as "To be confirmed".