Africa CDC - LSHTM MRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group Partnership to Support Robust Analysis of COVID-19 Seroprevalence Data in Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department Name: Epidemiology and Population Health
Abstract
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is supporting African Union Member States to conduct national surveys to determine the percentage of people who have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Seventeen countries have completed or are currently conducting the first round of these surveys, and they have agreed to share their data to enable combined analysis. This project will employ a medical statistician to manage and analyse this complex multi-country COVID-19 survey data, advise country-level teams on survey design and analysis issues, and finalise the database so that it can be used for future research. The results of these time-critical analyses will be used to inform rapid response prevention planning, policy, and practice at country and continental level. In addition, the statistician will provide on-the-job training and mentoring to Africa CDC staff, strengthening institutional capacity to conduct statistical analyses and interpret findings. They will initially be employed for six months, but further funding will be identified to extend the duration of the post and to ensure sustainable strengthening of biostatistical capacity at Africa CDC.
Technical Summary
Africa CDC is coordinating a unique, multi-national research initiative, supporting African Union Member States to carry out robust nationally-representative COVID-19 seroprevalence surveys, in order to inform rapid response prevention planning, policy, and practice at country and continental level. Seventeen countries joined the first wave of surveys, of which six have completed data collection, and seven are expected to do so by October 2021. Participating countries will analyse their survey findings with support from Africa CDC as needed, and have agreed to share their data for aggregate analysis and interpretation under precedent-setting data-sharing agreements. However, there is currently insufficient statistical and epidemiological capacity to undertake these critical activities. The aim of this proposal is to employ a medical statistician, initially on a six-month basis, to rapidly undertake time-critical analysis of the COVID-19 seroprevalence data, facilitated by Africa CDC, in order to inform policy decisions for pandemic response including vaccine scale-up. The statistician will manage and analyse this complex multi-country survey data, advise country-level teams on survey design and analysis issues, and establish the database for future research. They will provide on-the-job training and mentoring to the Africa CDC epidemiology analytics team and will support strategic interpretation and use of COVID-19 seroprevalence and vaccine coverage data and findings to inform Africa CDC and the Member States in their ongoing COVID-19 response including vaccine roll-out strategies. Following the six-month period, further funding will be identified to extend the duration of the post and to enable sustainable strengthening of biostatistical capacity at Africa CDC.
Publications
Aceng JR
(2023)
Continental concerted efforts to control the seventh outbreak of Ebola Virus disease in Uganda: The first 90 days of the response.
in Journal of public health in Africa
Public Health Collaborators On Serosurveillance For Pandemic Preparedness And Response PHSeroPPR
(2023)
Learning from serosurveillance for SARS-CoV-2 to inform pandemic preparedness and response.
in Lancet (London, England)
Description | Africa CDC - ISEG seroprevalence data analysis |
Organisation | Africa Centres For Disease Control And Prevention |
Country | Ethiopia |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Secondment of a LSHTM statistician to undertake statistical analysis of COVID-19 sero-prevalence data |
Collaborator Contribution | Design, implementation, data collection, interpretation |
Impact | No research outputs yet. Collaboration is multi-disciplinary including statisticians, epidemiologists, policy makers. An output that is not directly related to research but which should support future research is that Africa CDC and LSHTM now have a Memorandum of Understanding to support further capacity strengthening at Africa CDC. Africa CDC are also in the process of creating a new Biostatistics and Epidemiology Unit which is a direct result of the secondment demonstrating this need. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | ISEG 50th anniversary symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Team member gave a talk on Africa CDC COVID-19 seroprevalence surveys as part of an online symposium to celebrate the MRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group's 50th anniversary, held online at LSHTM and partnering institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the symposium was to discuss research studies addressing the Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.3 of ending the epidemics of HIV, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases by 2030. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/mrc-international-statistics-and-epidemiolo... |