Knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning malaria in pregnancy: results from a qualitative study in Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Background: Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Infection during pregnancy with falciparum or vivax malaria, as occurs in PNG, has health implications for mother and child, causing complications such as maternal anemia, low birth weight and miscarriage. This article explores knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning malaria during pregnancy and it's prevention in Madang, PNG, a high prevalence area.

Factors affecting attendance at and timing of formal antenatal care: results from a qualitative study in Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Background: Appropriate antenatal care (ANC) is key for the health of mother and child. However, in Papua New Guinea (PNG), only a third of women receive any ANC during pregnancy. Drawing on qualitative research, this paper explores the influences on ANC attendance and timing of first visit in the Madang region of Papua New Guinea.

A qualitative study of how affected individuals or their caregivers respond to suspected malaria infection in rural Papua New Guinea.

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study that sought to identify the ways in which affected individuals or their caregivers respond to a suspected malaria infection and to illuminate the rationale underlying the decision-making process. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with a sub-sample (n = 44) of participants in a country-wide household survey who reported experiencing, or caring for someone who experienced, a suspected malaria infection in the two weeks before the survey. All IDIs were completed between March and July 2011.

Indifferent to disease: a qualitative investigation of the reasons why some Papua New Guineans who own mosquito nets choose not to use them.

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study designed to explore the reasons why some Papua New Guineans who own mosquito nets choose not to use them, whether on a regular or episodic basis. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with a sub-sample (n = 44) of participants in a country wide household survey who reported owning or having access to a mosquito net, but not having slept under a mosquito net the night prior to survey. All IDIs were completed between December 2010 and June 2011.