Field epidemiology capacity of the national veterinary services of Lao PDR: An online survey

Abstract

Introduction: Capacity in veterinary epidemiology is critical to detect, respond and control infectious diseases. Laos veterinary service is limited by having only a small number of veterinarians who graduated from overseas. Animal science graduates support the majority of the Laos veterinary services. The veterinary program was established in 2009 at the National University of Laos. We aimed to understand the national veterinary epidemiology capacity and identify gaps and training needs.

Method: A cross-sectional online study was conducted in 2021 targeting central (DLF), provincial (PAFO) and district (DAFO) government animal health officers and veterinary/animal science academics (n = 332). The questionnaire addressed skills, experiences and perceived training needs in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys, One Health, leadership and communication and biosecurity. A descriptive analysis was performed and associations between demographic factors and epidemiological skills were examined.

Results and discussion: In total, 205 respondents completed the questionnaire (61.8% response rate). Respondents reported low or no skills and experience in data management and analysis, epidemiological surveys and One Health. In contrast, higher but limited skills and experiences were reported in outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and biosecurity. Previous epidemiology training was primarily associated with stronger experiences in veterinary epidemiology competencies, followed by respondents that had completed a veterinary degree, highlighting the value of the currently available epidemiology training and veterinary-trained personnel in Lao PDR. This study could help inform the Laos government in its policy planning for field veterinary epidemiology capacity and future training.

Keywords: Lao PDR; Southeast Asia; animal health; capacity; field epidemiology; survey.

Figure 1

Percentage frequency distribution of respondent's activity regarding outbreak investigation (A), animal disease surveillance (B), data management and analysis (C) and epidemiological surveys and studies (D) from an online veterinary epidemiology capacity cross-sectional study in Lao PDR between February and March 2021. The percentage may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Key labels on the x-axis: clin, clinical; pm, post-mortem; def, definition; quest, questionnaire; interp, interpret; surv, surveillance; prev, prevalence; inc, incidence; calc, calculation; X-sect, cross-sectional; particip, participatory; Quali, Qualitative; asses, assessment; est, estimation; diag, diagnostic; eval, evaluation; lit, literature.

Figure 2

Statistical significant associations (p < 0.05) between skill outcomes and demographic variables for outbreak investigation (A), animal disease surveillance (B), data management and analysis (C), and epidemiological surveys and studies (D), based on multivariable ordinal logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex and prior epidemiology training experience from an online veterinary epidemiology capacity cross-sectional study in Lao PDR between February and March 2021. The point estimate of odds ratio (OR) is depicted as a circle, with the error bar indicating the 95% confidence interval. Key labels on the y-axis: def, definition; surv, surveillance; stat, statistical; calc, calculation; prev, prevalence; inc, incidence; Qual, Qualitative; Diag, Diagnostic.

Figure 3

Percentage frequency distribution of respondent's activity regarding One Health (A), leadership and communication (B), biosafety methods (C) and biosecurity at the field (D) from an online veterinary epidemiology capacity cross-sectional study in Lao PDR between February and March 2021. The percentage may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Key labels on the x-axis: dev, develop; mat, materials; VVW, village veterinary worker; govt, government; rel, release; int, interview; conf, conference; abstr, abstract; scien, scientific; superv, supervise; epi= epidemiological; invest, investigation; resp, response; surv, surveillance.

Figure 4

Statistical significant associations (p < 0.05) between skill outcomes and demographic variables for One Health (A), leadership and communication (B), biosafety methods (C) and biosecurity at the field (D) based on multivariable ordinal logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex and prior epidemiology training experience from an online veterinary epidemiology capacity cross-sectional study in Lao PDR between February and March 2021. The point estimate of odds ratio (OR) is depicted as a circle, with the error bar indicating the 95% confidence interval. Key labels on the y-axis: prog, program; dis, disease; mat, material; VVW, village veterinary worker; govt, government; epi, epidemiological; surv, surveillance; infect, infectious.