Integrating Data-to-Policy Training into Field Epidemiology Training Programme: Advancing Equitable and Sustainable Decision-Making in South Africa
1
Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
2
Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Mpumalanga Department of Health, Nelspruit, South Africa
3
Wits School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
4
School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1108
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In South Africa, the Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Programme (iFETP) strengthens surveillance, and outbreak detection and response skills for provincial public health officials, while Data-to-Policy (D2P) training teaches structured methods to translate epidemiological data into policy. We piloted an integrated iFETP D2P curriculum in Mpumalanga province to institutionalise economic evaluation embedded knowledge translation and policy brief writing skills.
METHODS:
We conducted cross-circular connections method for curriculum integration. We identified links across iFETP and D2P (iFETP/D2P) training modules and removed overlapping concepts to avoid repetition. The remaining D2P content was adapted into six facilitated sessions of 1–2 hours aligned with iFETP objectives per workshop contact. We used epidemiological analysis outputs from iFETP objectives to prioritise a health problem in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and applied D2P concepts through facilitated sessions. Guided field activities included root-cause analysis, cost inventory data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy brief development, supported by periodic check-ins. Decision-tree and cost-effectiveness analysis concepts were taught using freely-accessible Amua and Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS:
Eleven public health professionals from Mpumalanga province participated in the pilot. The D2P methods were successfully integrated into six of eight workshops, improving participants’ confidence in problem definition, micro-costing, and cost-effective analysis. The cohort developed a policy brief on infant pertussis vaccination, engaging provincial stakeholders to reflect programme realities. The cohort concludes with a policy brief presentation on infant pertussis vaccination strategies to the Ministry of Health Programme managers. Key lessons included the value of group-based learning, accessible analytic tools, and reflection on data-driven decision-making at the subnational level.
CONCLUSIONS:
The iFETP/D2P strengthens sustainable, equitable capacity for policy-relevant economic analysis within provincial health systems. Using accessible tools such as Amua and Microsoft Excel promotes inclusivity and sustainability while embedding D2P in programme-level training supports locally anchored, scalable policy advancement, supporting Health Without Borders.
In South Africa, the Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Programme (iFETP) strengthens surveillance, and outbreak detection and response skills for provincial public health officials, while Data-to-Policy (D2P) training teaches structured methods to translate epidemiological data into policy. We piloted an integrated iFETP D2P curriculum in Mpumalanga province to institutionalise economic evaluation embedded knowledge translation and policy brief writing skills.
METHODS:
We conducted cross-circular connections method for curriculum integration. We identified links across iFETP and D2P (iFETP/D2P) training modules and removed overlapping concepts to avoid repetition. The remaining D2P content was adapted into six facilitated sessions of 1–2 hours aligned with iFETP objectives per workshop contact. We used epidemiological analysis outputs from iFETP objectives to prioritise a health problem in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and applied D2P concepts through facilitated sessions. Guided field activities included root-cause analysis, cost inventory data collection, stakeholder engagement, and policy brief development, supported by periodic check-ins. Decision-tree and cost-effectiveness analysis concepts were taught using freely-accessible Amua and Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS:
Eleven public health professionals from Mpumalanga province participated in the pilot. The D2P methods were successfully integrated into six of eight workshops, improving participants’ confidence in problem definition, micro-costing, and cost-effective analysis. The cohort developed a policy brief on infant pertussis vaccination, engaging provincial stakeholders to reflect programme realities. The cohort concludes with a policy brief presentation on infant pertussis vaccination strategies to the Ministry of Health Programme managers. Key lessons included the value of group-based learning, accessible analytic tools, and reflection on data-driven decision-making at the subnational level.
CONCLUSIONS:
The iFETP/D2P strengthens sustainable, equitable capacity for policy-relevant economic analysis within provincial health systems. Using accessible tools such as Amua and Microsoft Excel promotes inclusivity and sustainability while embedding D2P in programme-level training supports locally anchored, scalable policy advancement, supporting Health Without Borders.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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