A focused ethnographic study examining knowledge, behaviour and attitudes related to treatment-seeking behaviour and traditional medicine was conducted in the Nasioi area of Bougainville. The study was conducted in two separate locations within the Nasioi area. Some similarities as well as some differences in knowledge and behaviour were exhibited in the two study locations which could be further investigated. People from both areas had a similar perception of common and serious illnesses. People from both areas also attributed illness to both biological factors and supernatural forces. Home management was the most common initial response to illness and the local village clinic or urban health centre were most frequently used as the first treatment resort. The most important factors in determining treatment-seeking responses to illness in both locations were cost and proximity to home or convenience. The study found that there may be considerable potential for an integrated health system in the Nasioi area and provided suggestions as to how this could be progressed. The study also provided information that could be useful in a wider context in informing the implementation of the national policy on traditional medicine in Papua New Guinea.
therapeutic aspects ; Medicine ; Illness, NOS ; Ethnography ; Persons

seconds ; Illness, NOS ; Philippines ; Attitude to Health

To identify life−related factors causing increased mortality, 2, 769 rural residents aged 29−77 were investigated through a self−administered questionnaire in 1990. Death certificates and migration information were inspected during the 4.5−year follow−up period. Age, obesity, life attitude, job, marital status, drinking and smoking habits, previous or current illness, and frequency of participation in health examinations were checked during the baseline survey. The person−year mortality rate was higher among irregular participants in health examinations than among regular participants both among males and females. From Cox’s multiple regression analysis, factors with a significantly high hazard ratio (HR) for mortality were irregular participation (HR=2.05), increase of age (HR=1.54, for 10 years), previous or current illness (HR=2.44), unemployment (HR=1.95), and living without a spouse (HR=2.61) for males; and for females they were having previous or current illness (HR=15.21) and living without a spouse (HR=2.94). Thus, irregular participation in health examinations, unemployment and aging showed a relationship with a higher mortality only in males. A previous or current illness and living without a spouse were related in both sexes.
participation ; Health ; Illness, NOS ; livin ; g <3>

During 2000 a review of health care and illness in Lihir, New Ireland Province, was carried out while I was employed as a Community Health Research Officer with the Lihir Management Company, the manager of a gold mine on Lihir. The review aim was to document the health care providers for the local population and the illness burden suffered by Lihirians, and then to shape services to have a more preventive emphasis. It was discovered that the health care services available were well utilized by Lihirians. Health care was provided by the church, government and the mining company, and needed better coordination of services. Lihirians faced a relatively heavy burden of illness, with malaria the most common affliction. They also suffered significantly from lymphatic filariasis and tuberculosis, and children were poorly nourished. A considerable number of recommendations have been adopted since the health review to improve the health of, and delivery of health services to Lihirians.
Health ; Illness, NOS ; Gold preparation ; Review [Publication Type] ; New

Kawakami village with a population of 4,700 is located in the easternmost corner of Nagano Prefecture. It borders on Gunma, Saitama, and Yamanashi Prefectures. In the village, there are only two medical facilities, our Kawakami Clinic and Kimura Branch Clinic. None of them have any inpatients' wards. Therefore, patients who need hospitalization without delay have to be transported in an ambulance car to the Saku Central Hpspital, a general hospital about 35 km from our clinic.In order to transport the emergency patients quickly, we began to used a helicopter on July 2005. A total of 75 cases who were transported by ambulance or helicopter from our clinic to the Saku Central Hospital from July 2005 to December 2006 were the subjects of the present study. The hour they were sent, their conditions, disease severity and transport from were examined, based on the reports filed by the committee which is supposed to judge disease severity, emergency degree and so on. It was found that 17 cases, which occupied 23% of the total number of transported cases, were transported by helicopter. Patients with internal diseases made up 76% and patients requiring surgical treatment 24%. Those patients with mild, moderate, serious and dangerous illnesses accounted for 12%, 41%, 29% and 18%, respectively. One case died three days after hospitalization. The other cases were discharged or transferred to other hospitals within two months. The rate at which we used the helicopter was low, so we could not say it was a common means of transport. In the cases of external trauma, it was difficult to decide which means of transport should be used, ambulance or helicopter.Further examination and discussion with the staff members of the emargency services and support hospital are needed to improve the emergency medical services as primary care.
Clinic ; Ambulances ; Central brand of multivitamin with minerals ; Review of ; Severity of illness, NOS