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Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS)

GEMS, coordinated by the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development, was a case-control study conducted at seven diverse, high-burden sites in Asia and Africa: the Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The study enrolled 22,568 children under 5 years of age, a sample size large enough to provide comprehensive data on the causes, incidence, and impact of the range of diarrheal diseases affecting children around the world.

GEMS is the largest, most comprehensive study of childhood diarrheal diseases ever conducted in developing country settings. Globally, diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of death among children under five, despite the existence of effective interventions such as oral rehydration solutions (ORS), zinc supplements and rotavirus vaccines. Many different bacteria, viruses and other pathogens can cause diarrheal disease. However, it has been difficult to prioritize and target interventions because previous studies cannot be easily compared or combined due to differences and limitations in the methods used. GEMS provides important new data to help researchers, policymakers, donors, and advocates make evidence-based decisions to reduce the global burden of diarrheal diseases.


About GEMS

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