The epidemiology of malaria in the Papua New Guinea highlands: 1. Western Highlands Province.

Despite a resurgence of malaria in many Papua New Guinea highlands and highlands fringe areas after the cessation of control activities in the early 1980s the malaria situation in these areas has received little attention. A series of cross-sectional surveys were therefore carried out to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the prevalence of malaria and the risk of epidemics and to propose adequate malaria control strategies. Studies in 24 villages in Western Highlands Province found the prevalence of malarial infections to be strongly correlated with altitude, ranging from 1.

Complex patterns of malaria epidemiology in the highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

A cross-sectional malaria survey of the Pabrabuk area in the Western Highlands Province found that all 4 human malaria species were present in a single village, with an overall parasite prevalence rate of 27%. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently detected infection (14%) followed by P. vivax (11%), P.

Engaging the community in research: lessons learned from the malaria vaccine trial.

When staff of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research first went into Wosera in 1979, to try and interest the community into participating in malaria research, the traditional warning sign of crossed bamboo sticks constantly blocked their path as they tried to enter the villages. In 2003, the site is a thriving research centre, with many projects under its belt, a successfully executed malaria vaccine trial to its credit, and approximately 13000 people from 29 villages currently participating in demographic surveillance and various research projects. It has been a long road from community suspicion to sustainable community participation, and the field workers have learned many important lessons along the way that can be applicable to research programs in other disease-endemic areas.

Safety and immunogenicity of two Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccines (PRP-T) given with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine to young Papua New Guinean children.

Background: In view of high mortality and morbidity from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in young Papua New Guinean children, the incorporation of a Hib conjugate vaccine into a nationwide immunization program would be of major public health benefit.

Methods: We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a lyophilized and a liquid form of Hib polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccines (PRP-T) given in the same syringe as diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine to children in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. In Part 1 of the study 209 children were randomized to receive at ages 1, 2 and 3 months either DTP alone or a liquid formulation of DTP/PRP-T or lyophilized PRP-T dissolved in DTP suspension.

Mortality rates and the utilization of health services during terminal illness in the Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Between 1980 and 1989 we carried out fortnightly demographic surveillance in a random sample of people living in Goroka town, periurban areas and rural areas in the Lowa and Asaro Census Divisions, all within 1 1/2 hours' drive of the town in the Asaro Valley, Eastern Highlands Province. Cause of death was determined by verbal autopsy supplemented by any available health service information. Crude death and birth rates were 10 and 32 per 1000 person-years, respectively, in 59,906 person-years at risk.