An Evaluation of the Rabies Surveillance in Southern Vietnam

Bibliographic Details
Title: An Evaluation of the Rabies Surveillance in Southern Vietnam
Authors: Quang Duy Pham, Lan Trong Phan, Thuy Phuong Thi Nguyen, Quan Minh Ngoc Doan, Hai Duc Nguyen, Quang Chan Luong, Thuong Vu Nguyen
Source: Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 9 (2021)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Public aspects of medicine
Subject Terms: rabies, surveillance, evaluation, post-exposure prophylaxis, Vietnam, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
More Details: Introduction: Rabies is endemic in Vietnam and has been a statutory notifiable infectious disease since 1998. We, herein, assessed the performance of rabies surveillance in Southern Vietnam and identified areas for improvement.Materials and Methods: We analyzed data on human rabies cases reported during 1991–2018. We adapted guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate attributes of surveillance. Between June and November 2018, we interviewed a total of 145 staff from hospitals, preventive medicine centers, and animal health offices at provincial and district levels in five southern provinces.Results: Between 2009 and 2018, an average of nine cases of human rabies (range: 4–20 cases) was reported annually in Southern Vietnam, representing an incidence of 2.7 cases per 10 million population. The highest incidence was observed in 2018 (5.5 cases per 10 million population). Survey data suggested that only 24% (13/53) of participants agreed that the monthly report template was easy to complete and that 42% (23/55) indicated that the change from the paper-based to the electronic case notification systems was easy. Only 7% (2/29) of human rabies cases were reported timely, and 65% (13/20) successfully collected specimens. Approximately 39% (56/144) of staff were aware of turning surveillance data into prevention activities, and 21% (31/145) witnessed data used for strategic program decision making.Conclusions: Although rabies surveillance was quite simple, flexible, and accepted in southern Vietnam, simplifying the report forms, training staff, and improving the timeliness of reporting and data usage are highly recommended for a better implementation of rabies surveillance.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2296-2565
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.610905/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2296-2565
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.610905
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/3ef21e6ccfc2449f8d40e79e833d1acb
Accession Number: edsdoj.3ef21e6ccfc2449f8d40e79e833d1acb
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22962565
DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2021.610905
Published in:Frontiers in Public Health
Language:English