Investigating socio-ecological factors influencing implementation of tuberculosis infection prevention and control in rural Papua New Guinea.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly transmissible infectious disease killing millions of people yearly, particularly in low-income countries. TB is most likely to be transmitted in healthcare settings with poor infection control practices. Implementing TB infection prevention and control (TB-IPC) is pivotal to preventing TB transmission in healthcare settings.

Tuberculosis infection prevention and control in rural Papua New Guinea: an evaluation using the infection prevention and control assessment framework.

Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the 14 countries categorised as having a triple burden of tuberculosis (TB), multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), and TB-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infections. TB infection prevention and control (TB-IPC) guidelines were introduced in 2011 by the National Health Department of PNG. This study assesses the implementation of this policy in a sample of district hospitals in two regions of PNG.

Knowledge among the rural parents about the vaccinations and vaccination coverage of children in the first year of life in Papua New Guinea - analysis of data provided by Christian health services.

Unlabelled: Knowledge among the rural parents about the vaccinations and vaccination coverage of children in the first year of life in Papua New Guinea - analysis of data provided by Christian Health Services.

Background: This analysis aimed to assess rural parents' knowledge about the diseases prevented by vaccinations and establish vaccination coverage in PNG.

Methods: Knowledge of vaccinations was checked through a standard questionnaire (five closed questions).

Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Abortion and Euthanasia Among Health Students in Papua New Guinea.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge and attitudes of health program students towards ethical issues pertaining to the beginning and the end of human life, and associations between these attitudes and demographic variables.

Participants And Methods: The study took a mixed-method approach with self-administered survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews. A total of 88 students participated in the survey, and 10 students participated in interviews.

Chronic Osteomyelitis - Bacterial Flora, Antibiotic Sensitivity and Treatment Challenges.

Background: Chronic osteomyelitis is a catastrophic sequel of delayed diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine bacterial flora and antibiotic sensitivity, and to evaluate the outcome of an aggressive surgical approach to chronic osteomyelitis.

Methods: This is a single surgeon, prospective cohort study on 30 consecutive patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed chronic osteomyelitis presented to a hospital.

Ultrasound-guided pediatric forearm fracture reductions in a resource-limited ED.

Background: Pediatric forearm fractures are a common presentation in emergency departments in Papua New Guinea. Often these children undergo "blind" closed reduction with reduction adequacy assessed by standard radiographs. This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound (US) in guiding closed reduction of pediatric forearm fractures in a resource-limited setting.

Knowledge, attitude and practice related to infant feeding among women in rural Papua New Guinea: a descriptive, mixed method study.

Background: Despite the well-recognized effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant life for reducing infant mortality, adherence to this practice is not widespread in the developing world. Although several studies on infant nutrition practices have been conducted in urban settings of Papua New Guinea (PNG), there is only scant information on infant feeding practices in rural settings. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice associated with exclusive breastfeeding in various locations in rural PNG.

Diabetic foot ulcers in Port Moresby General Hospital 2003-2008: review of the principles of effective prevention and management of diabetic foot.

Background: In the recent decade in Papua New Guinea and other Pacific countries there has been an increasing trend of lifestyle diseases, including obesity associated with diabetes mellitus. Foot ulceration and infection leading to amputation are common and feared complications of diabetes. Yet these are potentially the most preventable of all complications in diabetic patients.

Conservative management of splenic injury in the tropics.

We undertook this study in order to determine whether the conservative management of splenic injuries is a safe practice in a low-volume tropical hospital. We evaluated 69 consecutive patients with splenic injury prospectively. The outcome measures were morbidity and mortality rates, overall hospital stay and blood transfusion requirements.

Randomized clinical trial to compare the length of hospital stay and morbidity for early feeding with opioid-sparing analgesia versus traditional care after open appendectomy.

Background & Aims: Fast track protocols have been successfully used in abdominal surgery but there are no randomized trials on fast track after appendectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of fast track perioperative care protocol including early feeding with opioid-sparing analgesia after open appendectomy.

Methods: We randomly allocated 62 consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy to an early feeding with opioid-sparing analgesia and traditional care group.

Primary repair of colonic injuries at the Kundiawa and Madang General Hospitals, Papua New Guinea.

In this study, we evaluated the safety of primary repair of colon injury in a low-volume tropical hospital setting. Between 1998 and 2005, 18 consecutive patients who underwent emergency operation for civilian traumatic colon injury were studied. The main outcome measures were the mortality and morbidity rates and the total length of the hospital stay.