Preparation for the field

Assignment Brief

Assignment 1: Preparation for the field

Total marks - 30 (Weighting - 30%)

BACKGROUND:

Rabies, a fatal viral disease of animals and humans, continues to pose a serious threat to human health and livelihoods in Viet Nam. According to a report from Vietnam Ministry of Health, approximately 400,000 people got bitten by suspected rabid dog and around 90 people were killed per year due to rabies during the past 5 years from 2011 to 2015 (Lee et al., 2018; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016) . In addition, more than 407,000 courses of Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) are administered annually, causing a major economic burden (Lee et al., 2018; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016; T. Nguyen, Hoang, & Nguyen, 2013).

The key factors contributing to the disease include a low vaccination coverage in dogs, a lack of public awareness and access to human rabies immune globulin (RIG) and vaccine (Lee et al., 2018; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016; H. T. T. Nguyen et al., 2018). Rabies surveillance results on humans in the past recent years have indicated that 89.2% of those who have been vaccinated against rabies are bitten by domestic dogs (Lee et al., 2018; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016; T. Nguyen et al., 2013). Most of the rabies deaths were due to not being vaccinated against rabies, 98% of these cases were bitten by domestic dogs or having contact with dogs such as taking care of sick dogs or slaughtering dogs (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016; K. Nguyen et al., 2016). In partnership with several countries in the region, the Vietnamese government has committed to achieving the ambitious goal to eliminate canine rabies by the National Rabies control and elimination program 2016-2020 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016). Identify the key objectives (not more than four) of your field trip to Hanoi, Vietnam. What do you and your team want to achieve through this visit? Please explain why you think that those are suitable and achievable objectives for your team?

The main endemic zone of rabies in Vietnam is the northern provinces, which account for more than 84% of reported deaths from rabies (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016). Hanoi is one of the 14 provinces/cities at medium rabies risk of rabies epidemic with 2-9 death cases in human/year (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development & Ministry of Health, 2016). The epidemic areas in Hanoi are mostly located in the rural districts of the city.

SCEARIOS:

You are a public health professional working as a researcher for the School of Medicine at Griffith University. You are going to Hanoi, Vietnam to support the rabies elimination program in the city. You will lead a team of researchers from Griffith University involving personnel from different disciplines. You, the collaborative team, have a few weeks to prepare for the field trip before traveling from Australia for Hanoi, Vietnam. You are aiming to arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam at the beginning of August 2018. You and your team will spend the whole month there.

TASKS:

Please address the following.  

Part A: (5 marks)

Identify the key objectives (not more than four) of your field trip to Hanoi, Vietnam. What do you and your team want to achieve through this visit? Please explain why you think that those are suitable and achievable objectives for your team?

Part B: (3 marks)

Consider the size and composition of the team. Who will be included and why? Your objectives should guide your team formation. Please be clear and detail about the skill sets of the team members. Please note that you don’t need to identify real people.

Part C: (17 marks)

Describe all the activities/preparations that are needed to be made before you and your team leave Australia. Also, you would need to detail what needs to be done in terms of ensuring access to the field sites, when you are in Hanoi, Vietnam. These are all about in preparation of your (your team`s) visit to the Hanoi, Vietnam and accessing the field sites there.

Please plan the trip, consider you are the leader of the mission, outline necessary steps you need to be aware of, and prepare yourself and the team members for the visit to Hanoi, Vietnam. Please keep the objectives of your field visit in mind to prepare yourselves accordingly.

Following issues should be addressed in the preparation plan.

• Characteristics of field site (3 marks)
• Collaborating institution (3 marks)
• Formalities & Logistics (2 marks)
• Safety and security (2 marks)
• Health fitness and stress (2 marks)
• Implementation plan (3 marks)
• Family & responsibilities (2 marks)

Please ensure that your responses address the context, settings and adversities into account. Please note that we are not interested in what one generally does before going abroad for field work. We are interested to know about your preparation for going to Hanoi, Vietnam in early August 2017 for the ongoing rabies outbreak there. Therefore, your responses will need to be context and settings specific.

Sample Answer

Preparation for the Field – Rabies Elimination Programme in Hanoi, Vietnam

Part A: Key Objectives of the Field Trip

As the lead public health researcher from Griffith University, the following four key objectives have been identified for the field trip to Hanoi, Vietnam in August 2018. These objectives are strategically aligned with the Vietnamese National Rabies Control and Elimination Programme (2016–2020) and are feasible within the one-month timeframe:

1. Evaluate the Current Coverage of Canine Rabies Vaccination in Rural Hanoi
   Given that the majority of human rabies cases arise from bites by unvaccinated domestic dogs, particularly in rural districts, assessing the extent of dog vaccination coverage is critical. This will involve site visits, veterinary data analysis, and stakeholder interviews. This objective is appropriate as it provides baseline information to inform targeted vaccination campaigns.

2. Assess Public Awareness, Knowledge, and Practices (KAP) Related to Rabies Prevention
   Public misperceptions and limited awareness remain significant barriers to rabies control. By conducting structured KAP surveys and focus group discussions, the team aims to evaluate community understanding and behaviour concerning dog bites, rabies prevention, and access to care. This objective is both relevant and achievable with local support and facilitates evidence-based health education initiatives.

3. Analyse Availability and Accessibility of Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Including RIG
   Limited access to rabies vaccine and RIG significantly contributes to the high mortality rate. The team will assess the supply chain, distribution systems, and healthcare capacity for administering PEP in both urban and rural settings of Hanoi. This is a suitable and measurable objective that can directly inform recommendations for improving health system readiness.

4. Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms with Local Health and Veterinary Authorities for Sustainable Rabies Surveillance and Control
   Effective rabies control requires a coordinated One Health approach. Establishing formal partnerships with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), local health departments, and veterinary services will support long-term surveillance, data sharing, and joint intervention planning. This objective is achievable through structured engagement during the field visit and contributes to sustainable impact.

Part B: Team Composition and Justification

To effectively achieve the objectives outlined above, a multidisciplinary team comprising eight members from Griffith University will be deployed. Each team member has been selected based on expertise directly aligned with the field activities and challenges expected in Hanoi:

1. Team Leader (Public Health Specialist – Infectious Disease Epidemiology)
   Oversees strategic planning, field implementation, and stakeholder engagement. Brings extensive experience in zoonotic disease control and cross-cultural fieldwork leadership.

2. Veterinary Epidemiologist
   Responsible for assessing canine vaccination coverage and collaborating with local veterinary services. Expertise includes animal health surveillance and rabies control in endemic settings.

3. Medical Epidemiologist
   Leads data collection and analysis regarding human rabies cases and PEP administration. Skilled in outbreak investigation, statistical analysis, and health system assessment.

4. Health Communication Specialist
   Designs and conducts public KAP assessments and develops culturally appropriate health education materials. Expertise includes behavioural change communication and community engagement.

5. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Specialist
   Evaluates vaccine and RIG availability, storage, and distribution logistics. Experienced in health commodities management in low-resource settings.

6. Medical Anthropologist
   Explores socio-cultural determinants of health-seeking behaviours and human-animal interactions. Adds qualitative depth to public awareness assessments.

7. Data Management and IT Specialist
   Ensures secure and accurate data collection, using digital survey tools and managing databases. Supports real-time data analysis and reporting.

8. Administrative and Logistics Coordinator
   Manages travel arrangements, field schedules, budgeting, and compliance with both Australian and Vietnamese institutional requirements.

The composition ensures a balanced team with comprehensive expertise spanning public health, veterinary science, supply chain logistics, and socio-behavioural research.

Part C: Field Preparation and Operational Planning

Characteristics of Field Site 

Hanoi presents a heterogeneous field environment, with rabies risk concentrated in its rural districts, where access to healthcare and veterinary services is limited. These areas account for a significant proportion of the city’s annual rabies-related deaths. Field sites will likely include both peri-urban and rural communities with diverse socio-economic profiles. Road infrastructure and mobile connectivity may be variable, necessitating adaptable transport and communication plans.

Collaborating Institution 

The primary in-country partner will be the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), with additional collaboration from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. These institutions will provide essential support for field access, local data, community liaison, and translation services. Pre-fieldwork agreements (MOUs or letters of collaboration) will be formalised before departure.

Formalities and Logistics 

Essential preparations include securing research ethics approval from both Griffith University and Vietnamese authorities, acquiring research visas, and ensuring customs clearance for any research equipment. Detailed travel and accommodation arrangements will be completed, with accommodations located strategically near field sites. Transport will be arranged via local partners to ensure safe and efficient field access.

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