I would like to express my profound gratitude to all Mozambican men and women who participated in the four studies of my thesis. My greatest appreciation for your dedication to research and your trust in the study teams.
I thank the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for financing my training and Study I and Study III of my thesis, and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) for funding Study II.
To Associate Professor Charlotta Nilsson, my main supervisor, thank you your endless patience and constant availability. Thank you for guiding me throughout my training.
To Professor Sören Andersson, my co-supervisor, thank you for your support and expert guidance during my training. Thank you to you and your family for making my stay in Örebro be so pleasant.
To Dr. Ilesh Jani, my co-supervisor and above everything, my greatest mentor. I have no words to thank you for your coaching and professional support. Thank you for believing and investing in me professionally.
To Professor Eric Sandström, my co-supervisor, thank you for showing me that a PhD is more than just courses, studies and manuscripts. Thank you for being so human. I will never, ever forget your hug.
To Karolinska Institute and Eduardo Mondlane University, thank you for the opportunity of getting this degree. I hope I can continue supporting the health of the Mozambican people throughout the years of my life. A special thank you to the Department of Laboratory Medicine, particularly to Professor Andrej Weintraub and Arja Kramsu for always being available to help and support my activities.
To Professor Gunnel Biberfeld, thank you for your constant availability and support during my training. I will keep with me the great scientific moments we had and the amazing lake view from your balcony.
To Teghesti Tecleab, an amazing friend and colleague, thank you for being always ready to help me.
To Gabriella Lillsunde-Larsson and Malin Kaliff, thank you for teaching me and supporting me during the sample processing of Study III.
To the Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS) and Centro de Investigação e Treino em Saúde da Polana Caniço (CISPOC) teams, thank you for being such an amazing crowd. Thank you for believing in me and for supporting the local activities during my absences.
To Nilesh Bhatt, my direct supervisor at work and my friend, thank you for being such an excellent example of professionalism and humanity. Thank you for guiding me in my professional life.
To my fellow PhD colleague, Nelson Tembe, thank you for the good moments together, for sharing scientific thoughts and for the companionship.
To Orvalho Augusto, thank you for all your support in the statistical analysis of the papers in my thesis. It has been a great pleasure to work with you.
To the Mozambique embassy in Sweden, specially to your excellency the ambassador Frances Rodrigues, for all the support during my visits in Sweden.
This thesis is dedicated to my family, the pillars of my life.
To my parents, José Viegas and Ratiba Omar, I dedicate not only this thesis but my life.
Thank you for your unconditional love and support, and for making me who I am. All my achievements where only possible because both of you were always present in my life!
Mother, you will always be with me!
To my siblings, Sofia, Dário, Aissa, and Alanis, my greatest friends and partners, thank you for always taking care of me. Thank you for all your support and love during these 4 years of training and throughout my life.
To my love, partner, and the father of my baby, Antonio Silva, thank you for always being there. Thank you for understanding my absences, and supporting me particularly in the last stages of my training.
To my unborn son, thank you for being such a good boy and allowing your mother to finish this important step of her life. You are my world.
To Anizabete Viegas, thank you cheering for me and for taking so good care of my father.
To my family, the Viegas, Filomena Viegas, Filipe Viegas, Cynthia Viegas, and Helena Oliveira, thank you for your endless support. A very special thank you to my aunt Filomena Viegas, who has been a tremendous friend and has always been there for me.
To my family, the Omars´, thank you for your love and caring. A super special thank you to my grandparents, Omar Remane and Nani Raúfo, who have always taken good care of me, and to my uncle, Faizal Omar, who I will always remember and have in my heart.
To my lovely friends, “As meninas bonitas”, Lucia Chambal, Tatiana Marrufo, Lara Mondlane, Bélia Xerinda, Candida Sive, Clotilde Nhatave, Evelia Marole, Arsénia Bonzo, and Salma Amade, thank you for existing and for making my life so colourful. Thank you for being my sisters and for always being there for me.
To my sweethearts, Eunice Ali, Ana Claudia Buscaglia and Anisha Prabhu, thank you for your friendship and unconditional support. Thank you for always being present in my life and for all the laughs together.
To my Mozambican-Swedish friends, Cynthia Mdzimba, Noémia Nhancupe, Katarzyna Kozlowska, and Alcina Vieira, thank you for taking so good care of me while in Sweden.
Obrigada minhas amoras!
To my dearest aunt and uncle, Luisa Almeida and Maltez Almeida, for giving me so much love and for always taking good care of me.
Finally, but not least, to all my friends all over the world, my enormous thank you for being there for me, in the good and bad moments of my life.