ArticlePublic health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
Evaluation of a New Field Epidemiology Training Program Intermediate Course to Strengthen Public Health Workforce Capacity in Tanzania.
Article in Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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14 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Public health emergency response through field epidemiology training and rapid response teams - a scoping review.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Scoping review of public health emergency management training programmes and curricula in Africa (2000-2025): implications for policy, practice and research.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Building epidemiological capacity to strengthen health systems: evaluating the advanced (extended) field epidemiology training program of Papua New Guinea.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Strengthening field epidemiology capacity in Canada: a mixed-methods evaluation of the Canadian field epidemiology program.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Evaluating the impact of field epidemiology training programs: a descriptive review of the published literature.Human resources for health · 2025Review
- The future of public health doctoral education in Africa: transforming higher education institutions to enhance research and practice.The Lancet. Public health · 2024Review
- COVID-19 pandemic response and Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs in ECOWAS.The Pan African medical journal · 2024Article
- Cross-sectional study on the epidemiological investigation ability of professional staff from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Guizhou Province.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- The role of the Field Epidemiology Training Program in the public health emergency response: Sudan armed conflict 2023.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Evaluation of field epidemiology training programs: a scoping review.Frontiers in epidemiology · 2024Article
- Tanzania's first Marburg Viral Disease outbreak response: Describing the roles of FELTP graduates and residents.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- The Field Epidemiology Training Program's Contribution to Essential Public Health Functions in Seven National Public Health Institutes.International journal of public health · 2023Article
- Improving the effectiveness of Field Epidemiology Training Programs: characteristics that facilitated effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Creating "boots on the ground": addressing the shortage of field epidemiologists in the Philippines through intermediate-level training programmes.Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSARArticle
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesSub-Saharan Africa faces a shortage of skilled epidemiologists to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats. Tanzania has implemented one of the first Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Intermediate courses in Africa. This course aims to strengthen health workforce capacity in surveillance system assessment, outbreak investigation, and evaluation, prioritizing HIV control. We conducted an outcome evaluation of this new course.
methodsWe used a pre/post evaluation design using data from 4 cohorts of trainees who took the FETP Intermediate course from 2017 to 2020. We conducted knowledge assessments before and after each cohort and combined those results. Outcomes included knowledge and self-rated competency and trends in integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) data. We collected data through tests, field assignments, exit interviews, and data audits. We compared the mean change in pre-/posttest scores using linear regression and 95% CIs. We used content analysis to summarize exit interviews.
resultsFifty-three FETP trainees from 10 regions enrolled in the FETP Intermediate course, and 52 (99.0%) completed the course. We found substantial increases in mean knowledge (44.0 to 68.0 points) and self-rated competency (4.14 to 4.43) scores before and after the course. Trainees evaluated 52 surveillance systems and 52 district HIV care programs, and 39 (75.0%) trainees participated in outbreak investigations. From before to after cohort 1, timeliness and completeness of IDSR reports increased from 4.2% to 52.1% and from 27.4% to 76.5%, respectively. Course strengths were quality of instruction, individualized mentoring, and practical skills gained. Challenges were mentor availability, limited time for data analysis practice, and balancing work and field assignments.
conclusionsThe Tanzania FETP Intermediate course substantially improved trainee knowledge and helped to improve local data quality and reporting. This course is a promising model to strengthen subnational capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats in Africa.
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