Large-scale data reporting of paediatric morbidity and mortality in developing countries: it can be done.

Although the WHO recommends all countries use International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 coding for reporting health data, accurate health facility data are rarely available in developing or low and middle income countries. Compliance with ICD-10 is extremely resource intensive, and the lack of real data seriously undermines evidence-based approaches to improving quality of care and to clinical and public health programme management. We developed a simple tool for the collection of accurate admission and outcome data and implemented it in 16 provincial hospitals in Papua New Guinea over 6 years.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine in children admitted to Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, Papua New Guinea.

There is considerable overlap between traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Although the use of CAM, often regarded as TM, is recognized to be widespread in Papua New Guinea (PNG) there are few if any studies of its use in children. This study assessed the use of CAM in 300 children admitted to the children's wards of Angau Memorial Hospital between April and July in 2010 and the same time period in 2011.

Aetiology and clinical signs of bacterial meningitis in children admitted to Goroka Base Hospital, Papua New Guinea, 1989-1992.

Children aged 1-59 months admitted to Goroka Base Hospital with signs suggestive of meningitis were recruited to determine what proportion of such children have clinical or bacterial meningitis and to investigate the bacterial aetiology. A laboratory classification of definite, probable, possible, indeterminate and no meningitis was established. Thirty per cent of 697 children had a final clinical diagnosis of meningitis, 12% had culture-proven bacterial meningitis (case fatality rate 34%) and 10% had probable or possible meningitis.

Infant feeding practices in Papua New Guinea.

Concern about a possibly increasing prevalence of bottle-feeding led in 1995 to an Infant Feeding Survey of 1822 mothers attending urban health facilities. Infant feeding practices including feeding of colostrum, exclusive breastfeeding, weaning practices and bottle-feeding were assessed. This revealed that 28.

Assessment of HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of high school students in Papua New Guinea.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of high school students (grade 10) with regard to HIV infection and AIDS.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out in 21 high schools in 6 different provinces. The questionnaire was anonymous and contained questions about HIV transmission, preventive measures, attitudes towards HIV infection and a few questions about personal sexual behaviour.