BACKGROUND: Undertaking child-focused evaluations using a participatory approach has received recognition in recent years. Such an approach is critical not only to build capacity amongst children and youth but also to increase the rigour, validity and usefulness of evaluation findings. OBJECTIVES: The current paper builds on the methods used in a longitudinal evaluation of a parenting programme on reintegration outcomes of children, ages 1-13 years, living in residential care facilities in Uganda. The procedures used to select and modify measures to enable 8-13-year-old children to self-report on their own outcomes are described. METHOD: Using a grounded theory of child development, the authors describe the data collection protocols and child-friendly measures used as well as the piloting work that was done by engaging children in the feedback process. RESULTS: The study underscored the importance of adapting hybrid methods to the local context of a child-focused evaluation, especially in collecting data from young children on sensitive topics across a variety of situations. CONCLUSION: The process described in this article can be replicated for designing and conducting evaluations that are child centric and have children as informants of their own well-being. CONTRIBUTION: The article contributes to a growing body of knowledge on child-focused evaluations by building on a study conducted in Uganda that focused on developing child-centric measures and data collection procedures. This study shows how to involve children as respondents and assists evaluators to design studies that are ethical, safe, and sensitive to the needs of the children.

Análises de δ15N solo e foliar, em escala global, encontraram relações positivas entre δ15N e a perda de N do ecossistema (sugerindo um ciclo aberto de N), e uma relação negativa entre o δ15N e a disponibilidade de água. Mostramosneste trabalho que os solos e a vegetação de florestas de campinarana são empobrecidas em 15N em relação a florestas 'típicas', sugerindo que elas têm um ciclo fechado de N e são, desta forma, limitadas pelo N, ao invés da disponibilidade de água, como frequentemente sugerido.

Global scale analyses of soil and foliage δ15N have found positive relationships between δ15N and ecosystem N loss (suggesting an open N cycle) and a negative relationship between δ15N and water availability. We show here that soils and leaves from tropical heath forests are depleted in 15N relative to 'typical' forests suggesting that they have a tight N cycle and are therefore limited by N rather than by, often suggested, water availability.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of compatible poliomyelitis cases and to assess the programmatic implications of clusters of such cases in India. METHODS: We described the characteristics of compatible poliomyelitis cases, identified clusters of compatible cases (two or more in the same district or neighbouring districts within two months), and examined their relationship to wild poliovirus cases. FINDINGS: There were 362 compatible cases in 2000. The incidence of compatible cases was higher in districts with laboratory-confirmed poliomyelitis cases than in districts without laboratory-confirmed cases. Of 580 districts, 96 reported one compatible case and 72 reported two or more compatible cases. Among these 168 districts with at least one compatible case, 123 had internal or cross- border clusters of compatible cases. In 27 districts with clusters of compatible cases, no wild poliovirus was isolated either in the same district or in neighbouring districts. Three of these 27 districts presented laboratory-confirmed poliomyelitis cases during 2001. CONCLUSION: Most clusters of compatible cases occurred in districts identified as areas with continuing wild poliovirus transmission and where mopping-up vaccination campaigns were carried out. As certification nears, areas with compatible poliomyelitis cases should be investigated and deficiencies in surveillance should be corrected in order to ensure that certification is justified.

OBJETIVO: Describir las características de los casos de aparente poliomielitis y evaluar las implicaciones programáticas de los agrupamientos de esos casos en la India. MÉTODOS:Identificamos agrupamientos de casos compatibles con el diagnóstico de poliomielitis (dos o más en el mismo distrito o en distritos vecinos en un plazo de dos meses) y su relación con los casos debidos al poliovirus salvaje. RESULTADOS: En 2000 se registraron 362 casos compatibles. La incidencia de casos compatibles fue mayor en los distritos con casos de poliomielitis confirmados en laboratorio. De 580 distritos, 96 notificaron un caso compatible y 72 notificaron dos o más casos compatibles. Entre esos 168 distritos donde hubo al menos un caso compatible, 123 presentaban agrupamientos internos o transfronterizos de casos compatibles. No se aislaron poliovirus salvajes en 27 de los distritos donde se hallaron agrupamientos, ni en ninguno de los distritos vecinos. Tres de esos 27 distritos presentaron casos de poliomielitis confirmados en laboratorio durante 2001. CONCLUSIÓN: La mayoría de los agrupamientos de casos compatibles se dieron en distritos donde seguía habiendo transmisión del poliovirus salvaje y donde se estaban llevando a cabo campañas de vacunación de barrido. A medida que se aproxima la fecha de certificación, habría que investigar las zonas con casos de aparente poliomielitis, y corregir los fallos de la vigilancia detectados a fin de asegurar que la certificación esté justificada.

OBJECTIF: Décrire les caractéristiques des cas compatibles avec un diagnostic de poliomyélite et évaluer les conséquences programmatiques de la présence d'agrégats de tels cas en Inde. MÉTHODES: Nous avons identifié des agrégats de cas compatibles avec un diagnostic de poliomyélite (deux ou plusieurs cas dans le même district ou dans des districts voisins sur une période de deux mois) et examiné leur relation avec les cas dus au poliovirus sauvage. RÉSULTATS: En 2000, 362 cas compatibles ont été dénombrés. L'incidence de ces cas était plus élevée dans les districts comptant des cas de poliomyélite confirmés au laboratoire. Sur 580 districts, 96 ont rapporté un cas compatible et 72 deux ou plusieurs cas. Des agrégats de cas compatibles ont été observés soit à l'intérieur du district soit sur la zone frontalière dans 123 des 168 districts ayant rapporté au moins un cas compatible. Dans 27 des districts possédant des agrégats de cas, aucun poliovirus sauvage n'a été isolé, non plus que dans les districts voisins. Trois de ces 27 districts ont connu des cas de poliomyélite confirmés au laboratoire en 2001. CONCLUSION: La plupart des agrégats de cas compatibles avec un diagnostic de poliomyélite ont été observés dans des districts où la transmission du poliovirus sauvage se poursuit et où des campagnes de vaccination par ratissage sont en cours. Comme le moment de la certification approche, les zones possédant des cas compatibles avec un diagnostic de poliomyélite devront faire l'objet d'investigations et tout défaut de surveillance devra être corrigé afin d'assurer que la certification est justifiée.