Phnom Penh

Malnutrition among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries can lead to micronutrient deficiencies causing negative effects on maternal and newborn health. The World Health Organization recommends multiple micronutrient supplementation MMS, including iron and folic acid, during pregnancy to improve these outcomes. This study evaluates the implementation of MMS in Takeo Province, Cambodia, to understand health system readiness and inform nationwide scale-up. The study focuses on the transition from iron and folic acid supplementation to MMS across all health centers and hospitals in Takeo. Data collection involves mixed methods including focus group discussions with health providers, interviews with hospital managers and national stakeholders, workload surveys, supply monitoring, and phone surveys with pregnant women consuming MMS. These activities assess provider adherence, acceptability, resource needs, supply reliability, and economic factors related to MMS delivery. Participants include pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Takeo, healthcare providers, facility managers, and national officials. Women are followed up via phone surveys at 90 and 180 days after receiving MMS to assess adherence and acceptability. Provider workload and resource gaps are assessed, and perspectives on MMS integration into services are gathered. The study aims to generate insight into real-world implementation, identify challenges and adaptations needed, and support sustainable national MMS scale-up in Cambodia.

Researchers are evaluating how well an automated text messaging program delivered via smartphone helps Cambodian people living with HIV quit smoking. This study focuses on smoking cessation in adults with HIV and compares the effectiveness of interactive tailored messaging combined with nicotine patches against standard care with brief advice and self-help materials. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups for a 26-week period. One group receives brief advice, education materials, and weekly smartphone assessments along with an 8-week supply of nicotine patches. The other group receives the same brief advice and nicotine patches but also participates in an interactive automated messaging treatment via smartphone designed to boost motivation, coping skills, and reduce withdrawal symptoms. During the study, participants complete weekly assessments on their diet and smoking habits via smartphone. Researchers measure smoking status through self-reported 7-day abstinence and expired carbon monoxide tests at 3, 6, and 12 months to track quitting progress. The study involves follow-up over a full year to assess long-term smoking cessation outcomes, with safety and adherence monitored throughout.

Medical oxygen is a vital medicine needed especially for children with conditions causing low oxygen in the blood, such as pneumonia and neonatal diseases. This research evaluates the REAL-MOXY program, which aims to strengthen oxygen systems across different countries by studying how oxygen and pulse oximetry are used in health facilities. The program addresses challenges like unequal access, healthcare worker capacity, and data management to improve oxygen availability and use. The study involves five mixed-method sub-studies conducted in six countries, focusing on children under 15 years old. These sub-studies examine baseline oxygen practices and facility readiness, map patient care pathways, observe emergency care sequences, study healthcare worker oxygen use, and gather perspectives from patients, caregivers, and staff. Interventions vary by country but broadly include strengthening oxygen policies, training workers, and improving data systems. Participants are observed and interviewed across multiple health facilities over five years to understand oxygen system functioning and barriers. Data collected include facility assessments, patient and equipment flow mapping, direct observations of care, and interviews with healthcare providers and patients. The primary outcome is the mixed-methods evaluation of oxygen use and system readiness, guiding better oxygen access strategies in diverse settings.

Vector-borne diseases, caused by bites from infected mosquitoes, flies, fleas, ticks, or other blood-feeding insects, result in nearly one million deaths annually and are increasing, especially in Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, these diseases may account for about 10 percent of fevers, but many cases go undiagnosed. This research aims to better understand the range of febrile illnesses by using advanced metagenomic sequencing to identify pathogens in affected individuals. Participants include people aged 2 months and older who have a fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius or are diagnosed with a concerning pathogen. Close contacts of infected individuals may also join. The study collects blood samples, and for those with respiratory symptoms, nasal swabs. Participants share information on their age, sex, health history, and recent travel. If a highly transmissible or virulent pathogen is found, follow-up samples and testing of close contacts are performed to deepen understanding of disease spread. During the study, participants undergo screening with medical history review and physical assessments such as weight for children. They complete questionnaires and provide biological samples for pathogen identification. Optional follow-up samples may be collected within 1 to 2 weeks and again at 3 months after enrollment. Researchers measure pathogen sequences and immune responses to vector saliva proteins. The study continues through July 2027, aiming to improve knowledge of febrile diseases in Cambodia.

This research aims to understand how national medical oxygen strategies work and achieve impact at both national and local levels across different countries. It focuses on health systems and policy contexts in six countries involved in the Medical Oxygen Implementation program. The study seeks to involve policymakers, implementers, and medical oxygen users to identify challenges and find potential solutions to improve access to medical oxygen. Researchers also aim to generate new data and draw lessons that can inform national and global policy and practice. The study uses a mixed-methods design with three embedded parts stakeholder analysis, policy-implementation gap analysis, and comparative country case studies. It involves interviews with key informants from government, NGOs, professional associations, private sector, and civil society. The study is conducted in six countries and will be adapted to each context through ongoing collaboration with stakeholders. The research will run for four years and includes annual meetings to refine study topics and methods. Participants will take part in in-depth interviews focusing on national medical oxygen strategies over the four-year study period. Researchers will review policies, analyze program data, and compare findings across countries. The study will monitor how strategies are translated into action and their effects on oxygen service coverage. This involves collecting qualitative and quantitative data to better understand the implementation and challenges of medical oxygen programs within different health systems.

Researchers are investigating immune responses in people with serious dengue disease, sepsis, and healthy individuals to better understand how these conditions affect the bodys defenses. This observational study will enroll 200 hospitalized patients with dengue-like illness, 30 with sepsis, and 10 healthy controls to compare immune system activity, focusing on plasma leak syndromes and specific immune cells over time. Participants with dengue or sepsis will have blood samples collected at enrollment, day 1, and day 3, with dengue patients also having a sample taken at day 21. Healthy participants will provide one blood sample at enrollment. These samples will be analyzed for immune changes such as neutrophil behavior, cytokine levels, and adaptive immune responses as the diseases progress or improve. During the study, participants will provide clinical information and blood samples according to their group. Researchers will measure immune cell activity, gene expression, and serum markers to track disease progression and differences between dengue and sepsis. The study aims to identify key immune changes that could inform future treatments. Participation involves hospital visits up to 21 days with repeated blood draws, and the study will continue until December 2026.

Researchers are investigating the spread and impact of multiple infectious diseases in Cambodia, a country facing challenges in disease surveillance and laboratory capacity. This nationwide study uses a One Health approach to better understand disease burden, transmission, and population immunity for a broad range of pathogens including zoonotic, vector-borne, vaccine-preventable, and neglected tropical diseases. The goal is to provide evidence that supports targeted and culturally appropriate public health interventions and to create a model that can be applied in similar low- and middle-income countries. The study will enroll about 10,000 participants aged 2 to 75 from urban and rural areas across Cambodia through a multi-stage population sampling method. Participants will complete standardized questionnaires covering demographics, health status, mobility, animal contact, and healthcare access. Blood samples will be collected for multiplex serology to detect antibodies against 57 priority pathogens. This observational study does not involve treatments but focuses on extensive data and sample collection to support research and policy development. Participants will be visited at home for blood sampling and questionnaire completion between December 2025 and April 2026. Researchers will measure the presence of antibodies to assess prior exposure to various pathogens. The study also includes building a biobank and curated datasets for long-term research use. Community engagement and collaboration with national stakeholders aim to facilitate the uptake of findings. The total participation period spans the inclusion period with no intervention, focusing on observation and data collection.