Confidential, accessible point-of-care sexual health services to support the participation of key populations in biobehavioural surveys: Lessons for Papua New Guinea and other settings where reach of key populations is limited

A study was carried out to assess the quality of case management of malaria, malnutrition, diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infections in children in rural primary health services in Papua New Guinea. In particular, the study focused on the knowledge and skills of different categories of rural health workers (HW) in history taking, examination, diagnosis, treatment and patient education. Quality criteria were defined and health centre (HCW) and aidpost workers' (APWs) knowledge and practices were assessed. Primary health workers' (PHW) knowledge of case management was weak, but in all cases better than their actual practice. History taking and examination practices were rudimentary. HWs tended not to make or record diagnoses. Treatment knowledge was often incorrect, with inappropriate or insufficient drugs prescribed, being worst at aidpost level. These findings raise serious questions about the effectiveness of providing health services through small, isolated health units. Far greater attention must now be directed to focus on the institutionalization of problem-based training, continuous supportive supervision and maintenance of clinical skills and provision of essential drugs, supplies and equipment to ensure that rural health workers (RHW) can provide sound care.

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Assessing the clinical impact and resource use of a 30-minute chlamydia and gonorrhoea point-of-care test at three sexual health services

Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease ◽

10.1177/20499361211061645 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 204993612110616

Author(s):

Susie Huntington ◽

Georgie Weston ◽

Elisabeth Adams

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Resource Use ◽

Standard Care ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Process Data ◽

Point Of Care Test ◽

Clinical Benefits ◽

Patient Groups

Objectives: To assess clinical metrics and resource use of a 30-minute point-of-care test (POCT) for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) compared to laboratory-based testing. Methods: Three English sexual health services (SHSs) were recruited as part of a study. Existing processes for CT/NG testing and treatment were assessed, and adaptions to incorporate the CT/NG POCT were developed during semi-structured interviews. Staff time and consumables data were collected by clinic staff prior to and following introduction of the POCT. Results: SHSs selected patient groups for whom the CT/NG POCT would be used. Testing and treatment process data were collected for 225 patients (n = 118 POC; n = 107 standard). The percentage of patients receiving unnecessary CT treatment was 5% (5/95) and 13% (12/93) for POC and standard care respectively. The average CT/NG pathway cost varied and was on average £61.55 for POC and £50.88 for standard care. For the two SHSs where the POCT was used during a patient’s visit, for standard and POC respectively, the average time to CT treatment was 10.0 and 0.0 days and to NG treatment, 0.3 and 0.0 days. Conclusion: Use of a 30-minute POCT at three SHSs yielded clinical benefits by reducing time to treatment and unnecessary CT treatment.

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3. Fear and Loathing in Papua New Guinea Sexual Health in a Nation under Siege

Making Sense of AIDS ◽

10.1515/9780824863470-007 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 60-79

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

New Guinea

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Multisite Evaluation of Point of Care CD4 Testing in Papua New Guinea

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0112173 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e112173 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Malin Malagun ◽

Gideon Nano ◽

Caroline Chevallier ◽

Ragagalo Opina ◽

Gola Sawiya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Papua New Guinea ◽

Point Of Care ◽

New Guinea ◽

Cd4 Testing

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Application of goal programming to improve resource allocation for health services in Papua New Guinea

The International Journal of Health Planning and Management ◽

10.1002/hpm.4740040203 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 81-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Young Moon Chae ◽

William C. Newbrander ◽

Jane A. Thomason

Keyword(s):

Resource Allocation ◽

Health Services ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

Goal Programming ◽

New Guinea

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User charges for rural health services in Papua New Guinea

Social Science & Medicine ◽

10.1016/0277-9536(94)90382-4 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 39 (8) ◽

pp. 1105-1115 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Jane Thomason ◽

Navy Mulou ◽

Caroline Bass

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Rural Health ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

New Guinea ◽

Rural Health Services ◽

User Charges

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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

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05824-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ewelina Gowin ◽

Jerzy Kuzma ◽

Danuta Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

New Guinea ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

First Year ◽

Measles Vaccine ◽

Pentavalent Vaccine ◽

First Year Of Life ◽

Rural Parents

Abstract 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). We analyzed data on vaccination coverage from 2016 to 2018 from all Catholic health facilities. Analyzed vaccinations were the pentavalent vaccine (DTaP-HiB-HepB) and measles vaccine given in the first year of life. Coverage was calculated based on the number of vaccines used compared to the number of eligible children. Analyzed vaccinations were the pentavalent vaccine (DTaP-HiB-HepB) and measles vaccine given in the first year of life. Results Fifty-six parents, including 52 mothers and four fathers, participated in the interview. Many parents (46%) understood that the vaccine prevents diseases. During the analyzed period, 25,502 doses of measles vaccine were given, 31,428 children were vaccinated with the pentavalent vaccine. In 2016, the measles vaccine coverage rate was 26.6 and 33.4% for the pentavalent vaccine. In 2017, measles and pentavalent vaccines’ coverage rate was 12.5 and 16.6%, respectively. There were significant differences in immunization coverage between provinces. A decreasing trend in the number of administered vaccinations was observed. Conclusion The results of this analysis demonstrate that in PNG, the majority of children are not fully immunized. There are significant differences in the vaccination coverage between provinces. As protection from diseases is low, there is a very high risk of an outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease in the community. Delivery of vaccinations in PNG encounters many barriers, from access to healthcare services to natural disasters and inter-tribial conflicts.

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