Trevor Duke, Harry Poka, Susan Myers, James Radcliffe, Boris I Pavlin
{"title":"Pigbel in the 21st century: still here, and still in need of an effective surveillance system.","authors":"Trevor Duke, Harry Poka, Susan Myers, James Radcliffe, Boris I Pavlin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pigbel remains a likely significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), two decades after the administration of pigbel vaccination ceased. There is a need for an effective surveillance program for pigbel to better understand the disease burden and to target communities for preventive strategies. This paper reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, recent history and current data on the burden of pigbel in PNG. We propose a surveillance program based on clinical recognition of likely cases and laboratory confirmation using an ELISA assay for Clostridium perfringens type C beta-toxin. Research aimed at validating this approach in the clinical setting is outlined.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 3-4","pages":"136-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34002260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Julie Kamblijambi-Kep--PhD candidate at RMIT University, Australia.","authors":"Mercy Masta","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Julie Kamblijambi-Kep has come a long way from her childhood in the village of Wingi in Papua New Guinea's East Sepik Province. This article explores the support Julie's family provided for her education, her subsequent training as a nurse and her work around the country, including as the coordinator of the maternal health program at the University of Goroka. The article's exploration of various challenges, including the death of Julie's husband and her need to work while raising five children, make it a useful reference point for women in Papua New Guinea, especially those who are committed to helping others by working in the field of maternal and child health.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"55-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32837857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Turning negatives into positives: the life and work of Naomi Yupae.","authors":"Ceridwen Spark","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article explores the life story of Naomi Yupae, one of the founders and the first executive director of Eastern Highlands Family Voice (EHFV), an organization based in Goroka, Papua New Guinea (PNG). A proud Bena Bena woman, Naomi was one of only a handful of women in the pre-Independence era to gain a scholarship to pursue secondary schooling in Australia. The article discusses Naomi's experiences as a student and her determination to come back to PNG to maintain her cultural connections with her people and contribute to development in PNG. Naomi's professional contributions as a researcher and social worker are discussed and evaluated.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"67-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32837862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health services for all in 2050--getting the balance right.","authors":"John D Vince","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32836891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comparative study of intestinal helminths in pre-school-age urban and rural children in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.","authors":"Jennifer M Shield, Felicia Kow","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children aged between 1 month and 10 years from one rural coastal locality, two rural upland localities and two urban localities in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea were examined between September 1980 and September 1982. Hookworm (predominantly Necator americanus), Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura increased in prevalence with age. The prevalence of Strongyloides fuelleborni subspecies kellyi, where present, was either highest in the < 1 year age group or similar in all age groups. N. americanus prevalence was between 59% and 83% in the 3 year age group except at the coastal locality, where it was 15%. A. lumbricoides prevalence in the 3 year age group was very low in one upland locality and between 7% and 41% for the other localities. T. trichiura prevalence in the 3 year age group was between 33% and 55% at the coastal and two urban localities, and very low at the two upland localities. S. f. kellyi prevalence in the < 1 year age group was 48% and 20% respectively at the two upland localities, 2% at one of the urban localities and not detected at the other localities. Strongyloides stercoralis was detected at both urban localities, but not at the coastal locality or at the upland locality where testing was done. Many children had infections of more than one species, and there was a significant association of A. lumbricoides with T. trichiura at the coastal and two urban localities. The presence of S. f. kellyi at one of the urban localities raises the possibility that this once isolated species may now be spreading as infected people visit and settle in the towns. Between 68% and 93% of children in the 3 year age group and between 65% and 100% in the 5 year age group were infected with at least one helminth species.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"14-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32836893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The story of Francisca Trimas.","authors":"Theresa Meki","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Francisca Trimas is a 57-year-old nurse from the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. This article documents her life as a rural health worker in Papua New Guinea. Since graduating from the Angau School of Nursing in 1976, Francisca has spent more than 30 years of her life working in the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea, from Kimbe to Hagen, Tari and the outskirts of the Eastern Highlands. In a country characterized by difficult terrain that makes access to basic health care very difficult, Francisca recalls the memorable moments in her life as a nurse dealing with life-threatening situations. From breech births to the occasional wild pig bite, Francisca reminisces on the joys and triumphs as well as the frustrations of working in the bush.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"38-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32836896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mother's love' for bacterial babies: the commitment of Audrey Michael, Mition Yoannes and Tilda Orami to medical research.","authors":"Tammy Gibbs, Geraldine Vilakiva","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Audrey Michael, Mition Yoannes and Tilda Orami are long-term health researchers at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with all three women for the purpose of profiling women who are leaders in health and medicine in Papua New Guinea. They were asked questions about their early life and childhood, education, work life and training, and mentors who have supported their career path and leadership role. Audrey, Mition and Tilda have all made significant contributions to the PNGIMR and to the health of the people of PNG. In particular, all three have been part of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) studies--looking at the safety, immunogenicity and priming for immunological memory of a 7-valent PCV and investigating the safety and immune responses to two different, recently licensed types of PCV, a 13-valent and a 10-valent vaccine.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"43-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32837860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Susan Setae and the Papua Hahine Social Action Forum.","authors":"Annemarie Laumaea","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article explores the childhood, educational experiences and professional life of Susan Setae. As the founder and current president of Papua Hahine Social Action Forum--an organization involved in caring and providing support for victims of violence--Susan makes an important contribution to the lives of her fellow citizens in Papua New Guinea. The article documents Susan's early influences and her passion to see women in Papua New Guinea live lives free of violence.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"64-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32837864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Humble beginnings: from Lalaura to the board rooms of Papua New Guinea--the story of Dr Evelyn Lavu.","authors":"Ceridwen Spark","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article explores the life and professional achievements of Dr Evelyn Lavu, the Director of the Central Public Health Laboratory at Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The article documents Dr Lavu's journey from the happy village in which she grew up to her internationally recognized status as a leading pathologist of the Pacific region. Never limited by her gender, Dr Lavu has served as an executive committee member of the Medical Society of Papua New Guinea. She has also served as the President of the Women Doctors' Association of PNG. Exploring the factors that have enabled Dr Lavu's achievements, the article documents her quiet tenacity and confidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"74-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32836464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Perceptions and use of maternal health services by women in rural coastal Madang Province.","authors":"Sue King, Megan Passey, Rumona Dickson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maternal mortality remains exceptionally high in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at 733 per 100,000 live births. There has been little, if any, improvement in maternal mortality or maternity services since the 1980s. In 1992-1993 a survey of 550 women in rural coastal areas of Madang Province was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of maternal risk factors and parous women's utilization of and attitudes towards the existing health services. Women were classified as at risk on the basis of previous obstetric complications, parity, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. On this basis 67% of women were classified as being at risk in a future pregnancy. High rates of obstetric complications were reported, with only 42% of women delivering their most recent child in a health facility. There was no statistical difference between those not at risk and those at risk in terms of their use of antenatal care or having been referred for a health centre delivery. The most common reason given for not utilizing the existing health services was lack of access. Most commonly expressed positive perceptions of a health centre delivery were the availability of medical help (59%) and the physical comfort of the health centre (48%). Most common negative views expressed were lack of physical comfort (29%) and the attitudes of staff (11%). Women's opinion on village births was divided. Many (47%) thought that there was nothing good about a village birth and the same percentage cited lack of medical care if problems arose. On the other hand 36% of women thought there was nothing wrong with a village delivery, and 30% cited the care and respect received from relatives as a positive aspect. When asked for suggestions on how services could be improved only a minority of respondents expressed an opinion. Those who did wanted better access, more information on family planning and improved care and respect from staff.</p>","PeriodicalId":76302,"journal":{"name":"Papua and New Guinea medical journal","volume":"56 1-2","pages":"5-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"32836892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}