TY - JOUR T1 - Training a Continent: A Process Evaluation of Virtual Training on Infection Prevention and Control in Africa During COVID-19 JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00051 VL - 11 IS - 2 SP - e2200051 AU - Suzan Joseph Kessy AU - Giorgia Gon AU - Yewande Alimi AU - Waheed Aryio Bakare AU - Katherine Gallagher AU - Emilio Hornsey AU - Lizzi Sithole AU - Ezinne Victoria Chinemerem Onwekwe AU - Tochi Okwor AU - Adekemi Sekoni AU - Alice Vahanian AU - Anna Vorndran AU - Thaddee Niyoyitungira AU - Tajudeen Raji AU - Chikwe Ihekweazu AU - Mohammed Abdulaziz AU - Folasade Ogunsola Y1 - 2023/04/28 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/11/2/e2200051.abstract N2 - Key FindingsParticipants specifically appreciated the context-specific adaptations and the African focus of the training.Using different modes of learning (e.g., offline materials, live webinars, and question-and-answer sessions) was essential for successful delivery of the virtual training.Results show that large-scale training on infection prevention is feasible at the fast pace required during the pandemic but requires proactive monitoring and ongoing adaptations.Key ImplicationsLarge-scale training on infection prevention is feasible at the fast pace required during the pandemic, but it requires proactive monitoring and ongoing adaptations.The feasibility of virtual training should be exploited in the future to support in-person training and enhance emergency preparedness on the African continent.Collaborative relations between multiple institutions strengthened the development, dissemination, and evaluation of this training and should be optimized in any future large-scale emergencies.Background:Strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity was identified as a key intervention to prepare African Union member states to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Africa Taskforce for Coronavirus, which helped implement the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak response, the IPC Technical Working Group (IPC TWG) was convened to coordinate the development of IPC core components for preparedness, response, and recovery from COVID-19. As part of the IPC TWG’s work, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Infection Control Africa Network, delivered virtual IPC training sessions targeted to African Union member states. We aimed to undertake a process evaluation of this training to inform and improve both ongoing and future programming.Methods:The scope of the evaluation was agreed upon through discussion with the training organizers and advisory members and a design workshop. A mixed-methods approach was used; data collection was partly prospective and partly retrospective due to the rapid start of some of the training activities. Existing available data included: usage analytics, the content of questions posed during the webinar and community of practice, and participant feedback survey results. In addition, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of webinar participants.Results:The rapid development of this training was efficient and responsive. The training reached more than 3,000 participants across the 2 rounds, but the numbers varied substantially by location. Participants engaged well during the question period during each webinar, but the asynchronous community of practice was less utilized during the evaluation time frame. Many participants appreciated the African focus of the webinars and gave positive feedback on the practical and context-specific content.Conclusions:The move toward online training provides an important opportunity to improve IPC across the African continent. ER -