4th Scientific Conference of the Ethiopia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Date: 24 – 27 February 2025

Where: Addis Ababa

Theme: Public Health in a Rapidly Changing World: The Role of Field Epidemiology Workforce in Health Sector Transformation

The Ethiopia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (EFELTP), which was established in 2009 and accredited in 2022, is a collaborative effort of eight universities and a big program by world standards. The program runs all the three tiers of Frontline, Intermediate, and Advanced FETPs.

Organized by the [Ethiopia] Federal Ministry of Health, the conference provides a platform for FELTP residents, graduates, the regional public health community, as well as multi-lateral agencies to share experiences in field epidemiology and other facets of the global health security.

Residents and graduates of FELTPs in Ethiopia are invited to submit abstracts. FELTP faculty members and other public health professionals with scientific work that is in line with the conference theme/sub-themes are also invited to submit abstracts.

Pre-Conference Workshops

• Toxicological Outbreak Investigation
• Digital Health/ Informatics
• Residents Driven Project Tracking Tool (ReDPETT)
• Food Safety
• 7-1-7 A for early detection & response
• Mental Health Surveillance Systems
• Climate Change and Health (Planetary Health)
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
• One Health. 

Conference Sub-themes

1. Ensuring quality and sustainability in the Ethiopian Field Epidemiology Program
2. Transforming the Ethiopian Public Health Management System for quality and resilience
3. A whole society approach to combat public health threats

Abstracts should cover original field investigations or projects undertaken and completed during training and within the past three years (i.e. not earlier than 31 October 2021) and should not have been published in any peer reviewed journal or presented at an international or regional conference/meeting. Abstracts in line with conference tracks below should be submitted online at https://portal.afenet.org

Conference Tracks

Abstracts will be accepted for the following conference tracks:

1. Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Surveillance, Outbreak Investigations and Response.

• Emerging and re-emerging pandemic threats e.g., COVID 19, Ebola Virus Disease, Mpox, Haemorrhagic fever diseases
• Outbreak Preparedness, Investigation and Response
• Point of Entry Surveillance and Cross border collaborations
• Refugee and Internally Displace Person’s health issues
• Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strengthening, analysis and evaluation
• Other public health surveillance system assessment and evaluation

2. Vaccine Preventable Diseases

• Polio and Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance
• Measles and Rubella Surveillance
• Recently introduced vaccines in developing countries e.g., COVID 19, nOPV2, IPV, Ebola Virus, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Human Papilloma Virus, Yellow fever, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines etc
• Surveillance and control of other vaccine preventable diseases
• KAP survey on VPD diseases

3. HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Opportunistic Infections

• Healthcare delivery and prevention models for HIV/AIDS including Antiretroviral therapy, PMTCT /EMTCT, Key/Priority Populations, Adherence of ART
• Tuberculosis including drug resistant TB.
• Other opportunistic infections and malignancies
• HIV CBS

4. Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

• Vector Borne Diseases (Malaria, Chikungunya, Dengue fever)
• Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Other vector-borne diseases and NTDs

5. Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Injuries & Mental Health

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cancers
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Road traffic injuries and occupational hazards
• Substance abuse and Mental health
• Chronic Respiratory illness

6. Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health

• Maternal and neonatal surveillance
• Adolescent health
• Sexually transmitted infections

7. Public Health Laboratory Systems and Infection Prevention Control

• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Biosafety and Biosecurity issues

8. One Health & Climate Change

• Zoonotic disease surveillance and response
• Innovations for one health approach in surveillance and outbreak response
• Pollution and environmental impact on public health

9. Public Health Systems Strengthening Initiatives

• Public Health Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance
• Human Resources for Health including Workforce development and capacity building
• Innovations in monitoring & evaluation, knowledge management, data use and reporting

10. Communication & Technological Innovations for Public Health

• e-Surveillance and e-Health
• Public Health Informatics

Abstract Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts should be written in English language
• Residents and graduates should upload their abstracts via the abstract submission portal, https://portal.afenet.org 
• Conflict of interest and biographical information: Authors of accepted abstracts will be asked to submit a disclosure of conflict-of-interest form. Biographical information will also be collected to facilitate continuing education accreditation of the conference.

Structure of abstracts

Abstracts must include the following sections:

Title: The title should be informative but concise. Avoid subtitles if possible. Write the title in Sentence case and only capitalize proper nouns and scientific names where appropriate e.g. Plasmodium falciparum. Do NOT use abbreviations or acronyms in the abstract title.

Introduction/Background: Address the scientific background, rationale for the study as well as the public health significance of the subject. Because of the anticipated diversity of the reviewers and those attending the conference, do not assume that everyone will be familiar with your topic. Explain why your study is important and what question(s) it will answer.

A clearly stated background sets the stage and should include:

• A brief description of the topic and its public health significance
• Study Objectives
• Research questions or study hypothesis if applicable

Methods: Describe the methods used for the study. Essential points to be included in this section are:

• Study design
• Study setting
• Study population
• Eligibility criteria and case definitions if any
• Sample size and sampling methods
• Data management and analysis processes

Results: Present the significant/key findings (both positive and negative) of the study that are directly related to the study objectives. This section should not include discussion of the results. Provide both absolute numbers and their percentages/proportions, rates and ratios where applicable.

Please note that since an abstract is a stand-alone and citable document, the results section should contain data. It should not include such statements as “Data will be discussed.” If considerable work is still pending before the conference submission, please indicate that the results are preliminary.

Conclusion: Be as concise as possible. Do not re-state data included in the results. This section may include:

• An interpretation of key findings and their implications for public health practice
• Public health actions that are recommended and/or have been implemented as a consequence of the study

Note: Changes cannot be made to the final abstract after it has been submitted. However, in the event that significant changes are effected after submission of the abstract, the changes should be highlighted during abstract presentation.

• Word count: The abstract should not exceed 300 words (includes sub-headings but does not include the title, key words, list of authors and their addresses).
• Formatting
  • Text should be left aligned.
  • Use font Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial, size 12 and 1.5 spacing.
  • Each sub-heading should be in bold font, and followed by a colon
  • Do not include any tables, figures or pictures in the abstract
  • Avoid using abbreviations that are not standard or universally known; however where used, they should be written in full the first time they appear.
  • Scientific names should be italicized
  • Submissions should be in English

Authors

First author: Provide first name, initials of the middle name (if any), and the last name e.g. David W. Meyers

Co-authors: List each co-author in order of contribution by typing their first and middle names as initials followed by their last name in full (e.g. W. Grisham, M. S. Pollock)

Provide the organizational affiliations of the first author and all co-authors

Indicate the corresponding author with an asterisk* and provide their email address and telephone number plus their alternate contacts!

The conference organizers have limited funds to sponsor limited number of presenters. We encourage the presenters to seek funding from third parties

Key words: Please include 4 – 6 key words. Use terms listed in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from the Index Medicus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html)

Evaluation Criteria

Each abstract will be evaluated by three independent reviewers using the following criteria:

• Background and rationale of the study
• Appropriateness of methods
• Presentation of results
• Conclusion and interpretation of results
• Public health significance
• Overall clarity of the abstract
• Novelty of the study

Important Dates