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- Hoy, Damian, et al.
(författare)
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Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme
- 2017
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Ingår i: Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR. - : World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office. - 2094-7313 .- 2094-7321. ; 8:3, s. 21-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PROBLEM: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.CONTEXT: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.ACTION: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.OUTCOME: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.DISCUSSION: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.
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| 2. |
- Zafar, Sumaira, et al.
(författare)
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Epidemiological profile of dengue in Champasak and Savannakhet provinces, Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2003-2020
- 2022
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Ingår i: Western Pacific Surveillance and Response. - : World Health Organization. - 2094-7321 .- 2094-7313. ; 13:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dengue is a public health issue in tropical south-eastern Asia responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Informationon dengue epidemiology is necessary for developing strategies to control infections effectively. In the Lao People’s DemocraticRepublic (Lao PDR), Champasak and Savannakhet provinces account for around 30% of the national dengue burden. Inthis study, the dengue epidemiological profile in these two southern provinces of Lao PDR was described by analysingseasonal and spatial dengue notification data from 2003–2020 using the long-term mean (LTM) method. Savannakhet hada higher LTM (132.0 cases/month, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 92.2–171.7) than Champasak (113.3 cases/month, 95%CI: 86.0–140.5), with peaks in dengue notifications following the rainy season in both provinces. The highest notificationrates were observed in July to September; these months were also when the LTM was most frequently exceeded. Previously,dengue notifications were largely confined to the western districts of Savannakhet and the northern districts of Champasak,but more recently, notifications have increased in the eastern districts of Savannakhet and southern districts of Champasak.While the notification rate remained high in children and young adults (5–30 years), especially among students and farmers,a shift in the age structure of dengue cases was observed, with a greater proportion of notifications now occurring in thoseaged over 30 years. Community-based vector control and prevention programmes are needed to restrict the spread of dengueinto new geographical areas in the southern provinces of Lao PDR.
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