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Social Contact Patterns in Vietnam and Implications for the Control of Infectious Diseases

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Horby
  • Pham Quang Thai
  • Niel Hens
  • Nguyen Thi Thu Yen
  • Le Quynh Mai
  • Dang Dinh Thoang
  • Nguyen Manh Linh
  • Nguyen Thu Huong
  • Neal Alexander
  • W John Edmunds
  • Tran Nhu Duong
  • Annette Fox
  • Nguyen Tran Hien

Abstract

Background: The spread of infectious diseases from person to person is determined by the frequency and nature of contacts between infected and susceptible members of the population. Although there is a long history of using mathematical models to understand these transmission dynamics, there are still remarkably little empirical data on contact behaviors with which to parameterize these models. Even starker is the almost complete absence of data from developing countries. We sought to address this knowledge gap by conducting a household based social contact diary in rural Vietnam. Methods and Findings: A diary based survey of social contact patterns was conducted in a household-structured community cohort in North Vietnam in 2007. We used generalized estimating equations to model the number of contacts while taking into account the household sampling design, and used weighting to balance the household size and age distribution towards the Vietnamese population. We recorded 6675 contacts from 865 participants in 264 different households and found that mixing patterns were assortative by age but were more homogenous than observed in a recent European study. We also observed that physical contacts were more concentrated in the home setting in Vietnam than in Europe but the overall level of physical contact was lower. A model of individual versus household vaccination strategies revealed no difference between strategies in the impact on R0. Conclusions and Significance: This work is the first to estimate contact patterns relevant to the spread of infections transmitted from person to person by non-sexual routes in a developing country setting. The results show interesting similarities and differences from European data and demonstrate the importance of context specific data.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Horby & Pham Quang Thai & Niel Hens & Nguyen Thi Thu Yen & Le Quynh Mai & Dang Dinh Thoang & Nguyen Manh Linh & Nguyen Thu Huong & Neal Alexander & W John Edmunds & Tran Nhu Duong & Annette Fox , 2011. "Social Contact Patterns in Vietnam and Implications for the Control of Infectious Diseases," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(2), pages 1-7, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0016965
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kate E. Jones & Nikkita G. Patel & Marc A. Levy & Adam Storeygard & Deborah Balk & John L. Gittleman & Peter Daszak, 2008. "Global trends in emerging infectious diseases," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7181), pages 990-993, February.
    2. Joël Mossong & Niel Hens & Mark Jit & Philippe Beutels & Kari Auranen & Rafael Mikolajczyk & Marco Massari & Stefania Salmaso & Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba & Jacco Wallinga & Janneke Heijne & Malgorzata Sa, 2008. "Social Contacts and Mixing Patterns Relevant to the Spread of Infectious Diseases," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(3), pages 1-1, March.
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    2. Shami, Labib & Lazebnik, Teddy, 2022. "Economic aspects of the detection of new strains in a multi-strain epidemiological–mathematical model," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 165(P2).
    3. Laura Ozella & Francesco Gesualdo & Michele Tizzoni & Caterina Rizzo & Elisabetta Pandolfi & Ilaria Campagna & Alberto Eugenio Tozzi & Ciro Cattuto, 2018. "Close encounters between infants and household members measured through wearable proximity sensors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Radboud J. Duintjer Tebbens & Mark A. Pallansch & Dominika A. Kalkowska & Steven G. F. Wassilak & Stephen L. Cochi & Kimberly M. Thompson, 2013. "Characterizing Poliovirus Transmission and Evolution: Insights from Modeling Experiences with Wild and Vaccine‐Related Polioviruses," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(4), pages 703-749, April.
    5. Gail E. Potter & Nicole Bohme Carnegie & Jonathan D. Sugimoto & Aldiouma Diallo & John C. Victor & Kathleen M. Neuzil & M. Elizabeth Halloran, 2022. "Using social contact data to improve the overall effect estimate of a cluster‐randomized influenza vaccination program in Senegal," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 71(1), pages 70-90, January.

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