Humans ; Neoplasms/*epidemiology/pathology/therapy ; Papua New Guinea/epidemiology

Humans ; Papua New Guinea/epidemiology ; Pneumonia/*epidemiology/microbiology/prevention & control

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. malariae (5%) and P. ovale (3%). 10 of the 51 infections were mixed. Anopheles punctulatus was the most frequent vector species in the area, but both An. farauti no. 6 and An. karwari were also present in low numbers. This diversity in both parasite and vector populations indicates that complex malaria patterns are found in Papua New Guinea even at the moderate transmission levels found in low-lying inter-montane valleys.
Malaria ; upper case pea ; Papua New Guinea ; Study of epidemiology ; Complex

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Data on the epidemiology and history of cannabis in PNG are presented. The adverse health consequences of cannabis smoking and treatment options for cannabis dependence are discussed. It is recommended that a range of strategies are urgently required in PNG to prevent adverse physical and mental health consequences associated with cannabis smoking.
Cannabis ; Papua New Guinea ; Smoking ; Study of epidemiology ; treatment options

It is clear that exposure to arthropod-borne viruses is common in the populations of both Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. Clinical disease resulting from these infections has been reported although the paucity of case reports and combined clinical experience suggest that it is rare. Dengue epidemics due to dengue-1 and dengue-2 have occurred and it is likely that dengue-3 is also present in the region. No cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever have been described. Murray Valley encephalitis, Ross River and antigenically related viruses are widespread in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, particularly in the lowland and coastal areas. Antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus have not been found in blood samples from Papua New Guinea or Irian Jaya. As Papua New Guinea is developed, new areas of the country are opened up and ecosystems are altered. It is important that physicians based in Papua New Guinea, and those who deal with patients living or working here, are aware of the arbovirus diseases which occur and the potential and preventable problems posed by them to both the individual and the community.
Alphavirus Infections - epidemiology ; Arboviruses ; Dengue - epidemiology ; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology ; Population Surveillance

Surveys of noncommunicable diseases were performed in six communities in Papua New Guinea during 1985-1986. Results are reported here with respect to blood pressure and associated factors in adults. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lowest, and hypertension was rarest (less than 2%), in three rural/semirural villages on Karkar Island, Madang Province. Intermediate values for blood pressure and moderate prevalence of hypertension (3-6%) were observed in rural and urban Tolai communities in East New Britain Province. A periurban village in the Eastern Highlands Province displayed the highest mean blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension (12% in men and 5% in women). There was a modest rise in mean systolic blood pressure with age in most groups, but the age-related rise in diastolic pressure was much less pronounced. Other cardiovascular risk factors--body mass index (BMI), and plasma cholesterol, glucose and insulin concentrations--were lowest in the least developed rural villages on Karkar Island and highest in the urban Tolai and periurban highland communities. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly (and positively) related to age, male sex, BMI and speaking a non-Austronesian language. It is concluded that there is now a considerable variation in the prevalence of hypertension, and the levels of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors, in different communities in Papua New Guinea.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology ; Hypertension - complications ; Obesity - epidemiology ; Papua New Guinea

In this survey the obstetric and neonatal data of the admissions to the Obstetric Ward in Raihu Health Centre during 1990, 1991 and the first half of 1992 were analyzed. The emphasis of the survey was on the difference between deliveries born before arrival (BBA) (24%) and health centre (HC) deliveries (76%). The survey shows that there were differences in postnatal complications, postpartum haemorrhage (16% vs 4.3%), retained placenta (21% vs 1.3%) and puerperal sepsis (18% vs 4.3%), and in antenatal attendance (52% vs 90%), average bedstay (6.5 days vs 5.4 days), mean haemoglobin level (7.78 vs 8.77 g/dl) and gonorrhoea (17% vs 8%). For the neonatal data the survey shows differences in stillbirth rate (10.5% vs 2.3%), perinatal death in the first week (4.0% vs 2.5%) and mean birthweight (for male infants 2.75 kg vs 2.88 kg and female infants 2.60 kg vs 2.73 kg).
Birth Weight ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Fetal Death - epidemiology ; Health Facilities ; Humans ; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology

A morbidity study of diarrhoea covering 1926 children aged less than 5 years was carried out in Goroka town and the Lowa and Asaro Census Divisions, Eastern Highlands Province between 1986 and 1989. The study involved weekly demographic surveillance of the total population and morbidity surveillance of children by lay reporters who enquired about the presence or absence on any of the preceding 8 days of a range of symptoms associated with diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases. A three-day symptom-free period was used to define distinct episodes of diarrhoea. The average number of episodes/child-year for all children in the study population was 3.0. Boys suffered a significantly higher incidence of diarrhoea under 48 months of age than girls (4.4 episodes compared to 3.6/child-year). Incidence was highest among those aged 6-17 months (5.5/child-year) with a rapid decline after age 35 months. Incidence of diarrhoea was highest in the more remote Asaro Census Division and was higher in periurban areas than in Goroka town. Incidence also varied significantly between villages, some villages experiencing up to 10 times the incidence of diarrhoea found in Goroka town. The incidence of diarrhoea was significantly higher in January than at other times of year. Duration of diarrhoea varied with age, the longest duration being an average of 4.7 days in the 12-17 months age group. In order to reduce diarrhoea morbidity, it is necessary to improve access to water, encourage improved hygiene practices and breastfeeding and warn people about the risks of sleeping with pigs. PIP: A morbidity study of diarrhea covering 1926 children aged less than 5 years was carried out in Goroka town and the Lowa and Asaro Census Divisions, Eastern Highlands Province between 1986 and 1989. The study involved weekly demographic surveillance of the total population and morbidity surveillance of children by lay reporters who enquired about the presence or absence on any of the preceding 8 days of a range of symptoms associated with diarrheal and respiratory diseases. A 3-day symptom-free period was used to define distinct episodes of diarrhea. The average number of episodes/child-year for all children in the study population was 3.0. Boys suffered a significantly higher incidence of diarrhea under 48 months of age than girls (4.4 episodes/child-year compared to 3.6 episodes/child-year). Incidence was highest among those aged 6-17 months (5.5 episodes/child-year) with a rapid decline after age 35 months. Incidence of diarrhea was highest in the more remote Asaro Census Division and was higher in periurban areas than in Goroka town. Incidence also varied significantly between villages, some villages experiencing up to 10 times the incidence of diarrhea found in Goroka town. The incidence of diarrhea was significantly higher in January than at other times of year. Duration of diarrhea varied with age, the longest duration being an average of 4.7 days in the 12-17 months age group. In order to reduce diarrhea morbidity, it is necessary to improve access to water, encourage improved hygiene practices and breastfeeding and warn people about the risks of sleeping with pigs.
Age Distribution ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea - epidemiology ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology

From March 1995 to February 1998, 110 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in pregnancy or the puerperium at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) were surveyed. 96% were diagnosed as a result of the symptoms of tuberculosis, 4% through contact tracing. 11 of 40 patients who first attended antenatal clinic in the second trimester were not diagnosed until after delivery. The mean birthweight of term infants of TB patients was significantly less than term infants in a previous survey at PMGH. 45% of babies were growth restricted. With increasing duration of treatment, both increasing maternal weight gain in pregnancy and higher mean birthweight were found. Maternal and perinatal mortality were high in the study patients. There were 6 maternal deaths and a perinatal mortality rate of 137/1000. The majority of maternal and fetal losses occurred in patients who had pulmonary, miliary and meningeal TB. Improvement in the detection of tuberculosis in antenatal patients and the introduction of adequate treatment before delivery should prevent maternal deaths and perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Longitudinal Studies ; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology

Hyponatraemia (serum sodium level below 130 mmol/l) is a common electrolyte abnormality in a hospital population. It can be associated with dehydration, overhydration or normal hydration. Clinically, it is important to recognize the common diseases associated with hyponatraemia since correct treatment in terms of fluid replacement is essential in preventing complications of low serum sodium. We have reviewed results of serum sodium tested from patients admitted to the Port Moresby General Hospital between 1993 and 1995. This was aimed at identifying the most common features associated with low sodium. Clinical information and diagnosis were obtained by looking through a series of request forms. Of the approximately 30,000 blood samples taken over 23 months, the percentage of samples with hyponatraemia was about 1%. Hyponatraemia was more common in medical (38%) and paediatric (35%) cases and at the extremes of ages, ie, under the age of 6 years and above 40 years. Over a quarter of the hyponatraemic patients had severe hyponatraemia (serum sodium below 120 mmol/l). Clinical conditions commonly associated with hyponatraemia, in descending order of importance, were diarrhoea and vomiting, renal failure, central nervous system infections and trauma, pulmonary infections, oedematous states (eg, nephrotic syndrome) and diabetes mellitus.
Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Hyponatremia - epidemiology ; Infant ; Male ; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies