Impact on pregnancy outcomes of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in urban and peri-urban Papua New Guinea: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) reduces malaria-attributable adverse pregnancy outcomes and may also prevent low birth weight (< 2,500 g) through mechanisms independent of malaria. Malaria transmission in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is highly heterogeneous. The impact of IPTp-SP on adverse birth outcomes in settings with little or no malaria transmission, such as PNG's capital city Port Moresby, is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted amongst HIV-negative women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered at Port Moresby General Hospital between 18 July and 21 August 2022. The impact of IPTp-SP doses on adverse birth outcomes and anaemia was assessed using logistic and linear regression models, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 1,140 eligible women amongst 1,228 consecutive births, 1,110 had a live birth with a documented birth weight. A total of 156 women (13.7%) did not receive any IPTp-SP, 347 women (30.4%) received one, 333 (29.2%) received two, and 304 (26.7%) received the recommended ≥ 3 doses of IPTp-SP. A total of 65 of 1,110 liveborn babies (5.9%) had low birth weight and there were 34 perinatal deaths (3.0%). Anaemia (haemoglobin < 100 g/L) was observed in 30.6% (243/793) of women, and 14 (1.2%) had clinical malaria in pregnancy. Compared to women receiving 0-1 dose of IPTp-SP, women receiving ≥ 2 doses had lower odds of LBW (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26, 0.96), preterm birth (aOR 0.58; 95% CI 0.32, 1.04), perinatal death (aOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.18, 1.38), LBW/perinatal death (aOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.27, 1.12), and anaemia (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.36, 0.69). Women who received 2 doses versus 0-1 had 45% lower odds of LBW (aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.27, 1.10), and a 16% further (total 61%) reduction with ≥ 3 doses (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14, 1.05). Birth weights for women who received 2 or ≥ 3 doses versus 0-1 were 81 g (95% CI -3, 166) higher, and 151 g (58, 246) higher, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Provision of IPTp-SP in a low malaria-transmission setting in PNG appears to translate into substantial health benefits, in a dose-response manner, supporting the strengthening IPTp-SP uptake across all transmission settings in PNG.

Evaluation of an obstetric and neonatal care upskilling program for community health workers in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: 60% of women in Papua New Guinea (PNG) give birth unsupervised and outside of a health facility, contributing to high national maternal and perinatal mortality rates. We evaluated a practical, hospital-based on-the-job training program implemented by local health authorities in PNG between 2013 and 2019 aimed at addressing this challenge by upskilling community health workers (CHWs) to provide quality maternal and newborn care in rural health facilities. METHODS: Two provinces, the Eastern Highlands and Simbu Provinces, were included in the study. In the Eastern Highlands Province, a baseline and end point skills assessment and post-training interviews 12 months after completion of the 2018 training were used to evaluate impacts on CHW knowledge, skills, and self-reported satisfaction with training. Quality and timeliness of referrals was assessed through data from the Eastern Highlands Province referral hospital registers. In Simbu Province, impacts of training on facility births, stillbirths and referrals were evaluated pre- and post-training retrospectively using routine health facility reporting data from 2012 to 2019, and negative binomial regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders and correlation of outcomes within facilities. RESULTS: The average knowledge score increased significantly, from 69.8% (95% CI:66.3-73.2%) at baseline, to 87.8% (95% CI:82.9-92.6%) following training for the 8 CHWs participating in Eastern Highlands Province training. CHWs reported increased confidence in their skills and ability to use referral networks. There were significant increases in referrals to the Eastern Highlands provincial hospital arriving in the second stage of labour but no significant difference in the 5 min Apgar score for children, pre and post training. Data on 11,345 births in participating facilities in Simbu Province showed that the number of births in participating rural health facilities more than doubled compared to prior to training, with the impact increasing over time after training (0-12 months after training: IRR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.04-2.44, p-value 0.033, > 12 months after training: IRR 2.46, 95% CI:1.37-4.41, p-value 0.003). There was no significant change in stillbirth or referral rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed positive impacts of the upskilling program on CHW knowledge and practice of participants, facility births rates, and appropriateness of referrals, demonstrating its promise as a feasible intervention to improve uptake of maternal and newborn care services in rural and remote, low-resource settings within the resourcing available to local authorities. Larger-scale evaluations of a size adequately powered to ascertain impact of the intervention on stillbirth rates are warranted.

A research agenda to improve incidence and outcomes of assisted vaginal birth.

Access to emergency obstetric care, including assisted vaginal birth and caesarean birth, is crucial for improving maternal and childbirth outcomes. However, although the proportion of births by caesarean section has increased during the last few decades, the use of assisted vaginal birth has declined. This is particularly the case in low- and middle-income countries, despite an assisted vaginal birth often being less risky than caesarean birth. We therefore conducted a three-step process to identify a research agenda necessary to increase the use of, or reintroduce, assisted vaginal birth: after conducting an evidence synthesis, which informed a consultation with technical experts who proposed an initial research agenda, we sought and incorporated the views of women's representatives of this agenda. This process has allowed us to identify a comprehensive research agenda, with topics categorized as: (i) the need to understand women's perceptions of assisted vaginal birth, and provide appropriate and reliable information; (ii) the importance of training health-care providers in clinical skills but also in respectful care, effective communication, shared decision-making and informed consent; and (iii) the barriers to and facilitators of implementation and sustainability. From women's feedback, we learned of the urgent need to recognize labour, childbirth and postpartum experiences as inherently physiological and dignified human processes, in which interventions should only be implemented if necessary. The promotion and/or reintroduction of assisted vaginal birth in low-resource settings requires governments, policy-makers and hospital administrators to support skilled health-care providers who can, in turn, respectfully support women in labour and childbirth.

L'accès aux soins obstétriques d'urgence, y compris l'accouchement vaginal assisté et la césarienne, est essentiel pour améliorer les effets de la maternité et de l'accouchement. Toutefois, bien que la proportion de césariennes ait augmenté ces dernières décennies, le recours à l'accouchement vaginal assisté a diminué. C'est particulièrement le cas dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, bien que l'accouchement vaginal assisté soit souvent moins risqué qu'une césarienne. Nous avons donc mené un processus en trois étapes afin d'imaginer un programme de recherche qui permettrait d'augmenter le recours à l'accouchement vaginal assisté ou de le réintroduire. Après avoir réalisé une synthèse des données probantes, qui a servi de base à une consultation avec des experts techniques qui ont proposé un programme de recherche initial, nous avons sollicité et incorporé les avis des représentantes des femmes pour ce programme. Ce processus nous a permis d'imaginer un programme de recherche complet, avec des sujets classés comme suit: (i) la nécessité de comprendre la perception qu'ont les femmes de l'accouchement vaginal assisté et de fournir des informations appropriées et fiables; (ii) l'importance de la formation des prestataires de soins de santé en matière de compétences cliniques, mais aussi de respect dans les soins de santé, de communication efficace, de prise de décision partagée et de consentement éclairé; ou (iii) les obstacles à la mise en œuvre et à la durabilité et les facteurs qui les facilitent. Les réactions de femmes nous ont appris qu'il était urgent de reconnaître que l'accouchement, la naissance et le post-partum sont des processus humains intrinsèquement physiologiques et dignes au cours desquels les interventions ne devraient être mises en œuvre qu'en cas de nécessité. La promotion et/ou la réintroduction de l'accouchement vaginal assisté dans les régions à faibles ressources nécessitent que les pouvoirs publics, les décideurs politiques et les administrations d'hôpitaux soutiennent les prestataires de soins de santé qualifiés, qui pourront à leur tour soutenir respectueusement les femmes pendant l'accouchement.

El acceso a la atención obstétrica de emergencia, incluido el parto vaginal asistido y el parto por cesárea, es crucial para mejorar los resultados de la maternidad y el parto. No obstante, aunque el porcentaje de partos por cesárea ha aumentado en las últimas décadas, el uso del parto vaginal asistido ha disminuido. Esto ocurre especialmente en los países de ingresos bajos y medios, a pesar de que un parto vaginal asistido suele ser menos arriesgado que un parto por cesárea. Por lo tanto, llevamos a cabo un proceso de tres pasos para identificar un programa de investigación necesario para aumentar el uso del parto vaginal asistido o volver a incorporarlo: tras realizar una síntesis de la evidencia, que sirvió de base para una consulta con expertos técnicos que propusieron un programa de investigación inicial, buscamos e integramos las opiniones de las representantes de las mujeres sobre este programa. Este proceso nos ha permitido identificar un programa de investigación exhaustivo, con temas categorizados como: (i) la necesidad de comprender las percepciones de las mujeres sobre el parto vaginal asistido, y proporcionar información adecuada y fiable; (ii) la importancia de formar a los profesionales sanitarios en habilidades clínicas, pero también en atención respetuosa, comunicación efectiva, toma de decisiones compartida y consentimiento informado; o (iii) las barreras y los facilitadores de la implementación y la sostenibilidad. A partir de las opiniones de las mujeres, nos enteramos de la urgente necesidad de reconocer las experiencias del parto, el alumbramiento y el posparto como procesos humanos inherentemente fisiológicos y dignos, en los que las intervenciones solo deben aplicarse si son necesarias. La promoción o la reincoporación del parto vaginal asistido en regiones de escasos recursos exige que los gobiernos, los responsables de formular políticas y los administradores de hospitales apoyen a los profesionales sanitarios capacitados que, a su vez, pueden ayudar a las mujeres en el trabajo de parto y el alumbramiento de manera respetuosa.

"This is really something: same place, same day result, same day treatment" women's experiences of testing positive for HPV and receiving same-day treatment in Papua New Guinea: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is transforming cervical screening globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends same-day HPV screen-and-treat for primary cervical screening in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) but there is a lack of evidence on women's lived experience of testing positive for oncogenic HPV and receiving same-day treatment. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap among women participating in a same-day HPV screen-and-treat (HPV S&T) program in Papua New Guinea. METHODS: As part of a larger qualitative study, this paper explores the lived experiences of 26 women who tested positive for oncogenic HPV and were treated the same day. We analysed the data using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. All data were managed using Nvivo 12.5. RESULTS: The interpretative phenomenological analysis led to three superordinate themes: 1) facing and alleviating initial worries, (2) transforming the disclosure process, and (3) connecting to their faith. Women's experiences of the same day HPV screen-and-treat were framed by initial emotional reactions to their positive HPV test result, and having access to treatment on the same day, which helped address their worries and fears, and transformed their experience of disclosing their test result and subsequent treatment to family and friends. CONCLUSION: This study shows that, while women experience similar initial emotional reactions, undergoing same day treatment quickly resolved the women's worries, making this program highly acceptable. Overall, women's engagement in the program confirmed its high acceptability and cultural congruence, leaving women feeling empowered and hopeful about their future, and the future of all Papua New Guinea women.

A study comparing the WHO C-Model caesarean section rates and observed caesarean section rates at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, there is an increase in caesarean deliveries. Ideal caesarean section (CS) rates continue to be a matter for debate. The World Health Organization (WHO) C-Model, is a mathematical modelling tool to assist health facilities estimate expected CS rates based on the quality middle income facilities practice. AIM: To compare WHO C-Model derived CS rates with actual CS rates at Port Moresby General Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and obstetric data for women who delivered during a four months period was used to calculate CS probability using the WHO C-Model online calculator. Comparisons of CS rates were made for the entire cohort, as well as for each Robson Classification group to assess whether there was either 'under' or 'overusage' of CS according to the C-Model estimates. RESULTS: The actual CS rate of 5.5% (246/4437) was lower than the mean C-Model rate of 8%. The C-Model rate equates to an almost 45% increase in CS rates or an additional 111 caesarean deliveries be done during the four months study period. CONCLUSION: The WHO C-Model had good predictability among most of the low-risk Robson groups that accounted for just over 80% of the study population. The suggested additional 111 caesarean deliveries needed to be performed among high-risk Robson groups represented 15% of the study population. Local hospital protocols pertaining to management of both low- and high-risk cases are credited for keeping CS rates to a minimum. A lower threshold for CS in Robson groups two and four could have led to better perinatal outcomes.

Women's acceptability of a self-collect HPV same-day screen-and-treat program in a high burden setting in the Pacific.

BACKGROUND: A field trial to evaluate a self-collect point-of-care HPV screen-and-treat (HPV S&T) program was implemented in two Well Women Clinics in Papua New Guinea (Papua New Guinea). Assessing the acceptability of a health intervention is a core element of evaluation. In this study, we examined women's acceptability of both self-collection and HPV S&T intervention in Papua New Guinea.  METHODS: Sixty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had undergone cervical screening in the same-day self-collected HPV screen-and-treat program in Madang and Western Highlands Provinces, Papua New Guinea. Data were thematically analysed using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) and managed using NVivo 12.5. RESULTS: Most women agreed that self-collection was transformative: it helped circumvent the culturally embarrassing pelvic examination and increased their self-efficacy, especially due to the provision of health education, instructions, and pictorial aids. The availability of same-day results, and treatment if indicated, was particularly valued by the women because it reduced the financial and temporal burden to return to the clinic for results. It also meant they did not need to wait anxiously for long periods of time for their results. Women also appreciated the support from, and expertise of, health care workers throughout the process and spoke of trust in the HPV-DNA testing technology. Most women were willing to pay for the service to ensure its sustainability and timely scale-up throughout Papua New Guinea to support access for women in harder to reach areas. CONCLUSION: This study reported very high levels of acceptability from a field trial of self-collection and HPV same-day screen-and-treat. The program was deemed culturally congruent and time efficient. This innovative cervical screening modality could be the 'solution' needed to see wider and more immediate impact and improved outcomes for women in Papua New Guinea and other high-burden, low-resource settings.

Induced abortion in Papua-New Guinea: Experience and opinions of health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Papua-New Guinea (PNG) has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world; complications due to unsafe abortion are an important cause. Abortion laws are restrictive, and safe, induced abortions are unavailable to the majority of women, while unsafe abortions are known to be practised throughout the country. The topic of abortion is stigmatised, for women and health professionals. AIM: To conduct a study of PNG health professionals' experience of induced abortion and their views on the provision of safe, accessible abortion services for PNG women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire developed from similar surveys conducted in Australia and New Zealand was distributed in 2017 to doctors working in provincial hospitals of the public health system; in 2020, the questionnaire was distributed to doctors and nursing staff in Port Moresby General Hospital, and to medical, nursing and health sciences students in the University of Papua-New Guinea. RESULTS: Significant numbers of senior medical officers and nurses reported experience of women presenting following unsafe induced abortion. There was wide variation across all respondents with regard to accurate knowledge of PNG's abortion laws, and to views on the provision of safe accessible abortion services in the country's public health system. CONCLUSIONS: Abortion training for service providers and provision of primary care services are necessary to ensure that PNG women have equitable access to abortion care instead of seeking out untrained providers or attempting self-abortion. Innovative approaches also need to be adopted to complement family planning efforts in PNG.

Safety and efficacy of an oral misoprostol standard-dose regimen vs a low-dose regimen for induction of labour in Papua New Guinean women: An open-label randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral misoprostol is widely used for induction of labour (IOL) in developing countries because of its many advantages. However, limited data exist concerning its safety and efficacy when lower doses are used. AIM: To determine the safety and efficacy of a low-dose oral misoprostol regimen (commencing at 12 µg) compared to a standard-dose regimen (commencing at 25 µg) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) women undergoing IOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an open-label non-inferiority randomised controlled trial conducted at a provincial hospital in PNG. Women with singleton pregnancies ≥36 weeks with cephalic presentation and a Bishops score of <6, requiring IOL were enrolled. Both regimens were incremented second-hourly to a maximum required dose within 24 h or until commencement of labour. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who delivered within 24 h of drug administration without any severe adverse events. RESULTS: Of the 262 women induced (130 standard-dose vs 132 low-dose), rates of successful induction were high for both regimens (120/130 (92%) vs 118/132 (89%); P = 0.52). Fourteen women (11%) in the standard-dose regimen and 20 (15%) in the low-dose regimen had severe adverse events. There was no significant difference in the safety profile of the two regimens (106/130 (82%) vs 98/132 (74%); P = 0.18). The induction-to-delivery time was significantly shorter in the standard-dose arm (15.2 ± 8.7 h vs 18.0 ± 9.1 h; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The standard-dose regimen for IOL has greater efficacy in reducing induction-to-delivery time compared to the low-dose regimen. There was no significant difference in the number of adverse events between the two regimens.

Incidence of self-induced abortion with misoprostol, admitted to a provincial hospital in Papua New Guinea: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Misoprostol is a life-savingmedication in obstetric practice but the prevalence of misoprostol-related self-induced abortion is increasing in many communities. AIMS: To investigate the hospital incidence, clinical management, and legal framework of self-induced abortions with misoprostol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted over 18 months. All patients <20 weeks pregnant who were admitted with a diagnosis of misoprostol-induced abortion were included in the study. RESULTS: Of 186 women with abortion-related admissions during the study period, 51 (27.4%) women reported using misoprostol to induce abortion. The majority were young (27.8 ± 5.5) married women (32/51: 62.7%), particularly educated (27/51: 52.9%) employed women (27/51: 52.9%), who were not on any contraception (46/51: 90.1%). Most abortions were induced in the first trimester (39/51: 76.5%) and patients were admitted because of prolonged bleeding (23/51: 45.1%). A significant proportion of participants who did not receive the correct dose of misoprostol developed sepsis compared to those who received a correct dose (6/18 (33.3%) vs 1/30 (3.3%); P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The use of misoprostol as an abortifacient is increasing in Papua New Guinea, particularly among educated and employed women. A review of the laws to meet the demand for abortion services and to limit complications of unsafe abortion practices is required.

Mortality and morbidity after emergency peripartum hysterectomy in a provincial referral hospital in Papua New Guinea: A seven-year audit.

BACKGROUND: Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is a life-saving surgical procedure performed at the time of caesarean section or within 24 h of vaginal delivery and is usually a procedure of last resort in obstetric haemorrhage when other interventions fail. AIM: To investigate the incidence, indications, risk factors and complications of EPH in a provincial referral hospital in Papua New Guinea (PNG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a seven-year retrospective observational study investigating the rate of EPH at a provincial hospital between January 2012 and December 2018. Patient medical records that included socio-demographics, obstetric risk factors, indications for EPH and maternal and perinatal outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 19 215 deliveries during the study period, 26 women had EPH, giving an incidence of 1.35 per 1000 deliveries. The majority of women (18/26) were referred from peripheral health facilities. Overall, 21 women survived and five died (mortality index, 19%). Uterine rupture was the most common indication for EPH (13/26), and it was associated with a high maternal death rate of 15.4% (2/13) and significantly higher perinatal deaths when compared to babies born to mothers with other indications (13/13 (100%) versus 5/13 (38.5%); P = 0.002). Neonates born to mothers with uterine atony were more likely to survive (8/11 (72.7%) versus 0/15 (0%); P < 0.001), although maternal mortality was higher at 27.3% (3/11). CONCLUSION: Uterine rupture and uterine atony after prolonged labour are common indications of EPH and associated with significant maternal and perinatal mortality. Improving pre-hospital management of prolonged labour remains critical in PNG.

Cancer management in the Pacific region: a report on innovation and good practice.

Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) face the challenge of a growing cancer burden. In response to these challenges, examples of innovative practice in cancer planning, prevention, and treatment in the region are emerging, including regionalisation and coalition building in the US-affiliated Pacific nations, a point-of-care test and treat programme for cervical cancer control in Papua New Guinea, improving the management of children with cancer in the Pacific, and surgical workforce development in the region. For each innovation, key factors leading to its success have been identified that could allow the implementation of these new developments in other PICTs or regions outside of the Pacific islands. These factors include the strengthening of partnerships within and between countries, regional collaboration within the Pacific islands (eg, the US-affiliated Pacific nations) and with other regional groupings of small island nations (eg, the Caribbean islands), a local commitment to the idea of change, and the development of PICT-specific programmes.

Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

This Series paper describes the current state of cancer control in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). PICTs are diverse but face common challenges of having small, geographically dispersed, isolated populations, with restricted resources, fragile ecological and economic systems, and overburdened health services. PICTs face a triple burden of infection-related cancers, rapid transition to lifestyle-related diseases, and ageing populations; additionally, PICTs are increasingly having to respond to natural disasters associated with climate change. In the Pacific region, cancer surveillance systems are generally weaker than those in high-income countries, and patients often present at advanced cancer stage. Many PICTs are unable to provide comprehensive cancer services, with some patients receiving cancer care in other countries where resources allow. Many PICTs do not have, or have poorly developed, cancer screening, pathology, oncology, surgical, and palliative care services, although some examples of innovative cancer planning, prevention, and treatment approaches have been developed in the region. To improve cancer outcomes, we recommend prioritising regional collaborative approaches, enhancing cervical cancer prevention, improving cancer surveillance and palliative care services, and developing targeted treatment capacity in the region.

Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children.

A caesarean section (CS) can be a life-saving intervention when medically indicated, but this procedure can also lead to short-term and long-term health effects for women and children. Given the increasing use of CS, particularly without medical indication, an increased understanding of its health effects on women and children has become crucial, which we discuss in this Series paper. The prevalence of maternal mortality and maternal morbidity is higher after CS than after vaginal birth. CS is associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture, abnormal placentation, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and preterm birth, and these risks increase in a dose-response manner. There is emerging evidence that babies born by CS have different hormonal, physical, bacterial, and medical exposures, and that these exposures can subtly alter neonatal physiology. Short-term risks of CS include altered immune development, an increased likelihood of allergy, atopy, and asthma, and reduced intestinal gut microbiome diversity. The persistence of these risks into later life is less well investigated, although an association between CS use and greater incidence of late childhood obesity and asthma are frequently reported. There are few studies that focus on the effects of CS on cognitive and educational outcomes. Understanding potential mechanisms that link CS with childhood outcomes, such as the role of the developing neonatal microbiome, has potential to inform novel strategies and research for optimising CS use and promote optimal physiological processes and development.

Strategies to reduce and maintain low perinatal mortality in resource-poor settings - Findings from a four-decade observational study of birth records from a large public maternity hospital in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: In many low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) assisted vaginal birth rates have fallen, while caesarean section (CS) rates have increased, with potentially deleterious consequences for maternal and perinatal mortality. AIMS: To review birth mode and perinatal mortality in a large LMIC hospital with strict labour management protocols and expertise in vacuum extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study at Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea. Birth registers from 1977 to 2015 (39 years) were reviewed. Overall and modified (fresh stillbirths and early neonatal deaths ≥500 g) perinatal mortality rates (PMRs) were calculated by birthweight/birth mode. RESULTS: There were 365 056 births (5215 in 1977; 14 927 in 2015), of which 14 179 (3.9%) were vacuum extractions, 609 (0.2%) forceps births and 14 747 (4.4%) CS (increase from 2% to 5%). The failure rate of vacuum extraction was 2.5% (range 0.5-5.4%). Symphysiotomy was employed for 184 births. From 1989 to 2015, the modified mean PMR for babies ≥2500 g was 8.1/1000 births (range 5.6-12.1; 6.9 in 2015), 9.1/1000 for babies ≥1500 g (7.3-14.8; 9.1 in 2015) and 7.5/1000 (0-21.7; 9.0 in 2015) for vacuum extractions (98% were ≥2500 g). The overall PMR for these years was 29.7/1000 births. CONCLUSIONS: In an LMIC with rapidly increasing birth numbers a comparatively low PMR can be achieved while maintaining low CS rates. This may be in part accomplished through strict use of second-stage protocols, perinatal audit, and supportive training that promotes judicious and proficient use of vacuum extraction and CS.

Youth-centred research to help prevent and mitigate the adverse health and social impacts of pregnancy amongst young Papua New Guineans.

Despite persistent international attention, adolescent pregnancy remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, like Papua New Guinea (PNG), where health inequities related to social and cultural norms, gender power imbalance, education and socio-economic deprivation affect young and unmarried women in particular. In PNG - where there is high adolescent fertility, high early childbearing and high maternal mortality ratio, and evidence of high rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion among young women - adolescent pregnancy is a policy priority. Yet there are no youth-specific sexual, reproductive and maternal health services or community-based outreach programmes. There is limited in-depth qualitative data on young women's and young men's experiences of pregnancy, the social contexts within which these pregnancies occur, young people's contraception practices and experiences with existing sexual, reproductive and maternal health services. These issues inhibit the design and delivery of youth-friendly health services and outreach support programmes that could prevent or mitigate adverse health and social outcomes associated with adolescent pregnancy. In this commentary article, we propose the need for novel youth-centred research to inform the development of policies, health services and outreach programmes that pay honest and respectful attention to young people's lived experiences of pregnancy. Whilst we focus on the situation in PNG, these ideas are relevant to diverse low resource settings where the harmful impacts of health inequities among young people persist and are particularly detrimental.

Programmes for the prevention of parent-to-child transmission of HIV in Papua New Guinea: Health system challenges and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) of HIV is a highly complex package of interventions, which spans services in both maternal and child health programmes. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), a commitment to ensure that all pregnant women and their partners have access to the full range of PPTCT interventions exists; however, efforts to increase access and utilisation of PPTCT remain far from optimal. The aim of this paper is to examine health care worker (HCW) perception of health system factors impacting on the performance of PPTCT programmes. METHOD: Sixteen interviews were undertaken with HCWs involved in the PPTCT programme. Application of the WHO 6 building blocks of a health system was applied, and further thematic analysis was conducted on the data with assistance from the analysis software NVivo. RESULTS: Broken equipment, problems with access to medication and supplies, and poorly supported workforce were reported as barriers for implementing a successful PPTCT programme. The absence of central coordination of this complex, multistaged programme was also recognised as a key issue. CONCLUSION: The study findings highlight an important need for investment in appropriately trained and supported HCWs and integration of services at each stage of the PPTCT programme. Lessons from the PPTCT experience in PNG may inform policy discussions and considerations in other similar contexts.

Association between visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid examination and high-risk human papillomavirus infection, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Papua New Guinea (PNG) has among the highest estimated burdens of cervical cancer globally but currently has no national cervical screening program. Visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) is a low-cost screening strategy endorsed by the World Health Organization that has been adopted in many low-resource settings but not previously evaluated in PNG. AIM: To evaluate the association between VIA examination findings and high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection; and the impact of concomitant genital Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis on the interpretation of VIA findings. METHODS: A prospective clinical cohort study among women aged 30-59 years attending Well Woman Clinics in PNG. Main outcome measures were VIA examination findings and laboratory-confirmed hrHPV, C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and T. vaginalis. RESULTS: A total of 614 women were enrolled, of whom 87.5% (537/614) underwent VIA, and 12.5% (77/614) did not due to pre-existing cervicitis or inability to visualise the transformation zone. Among the 537 women who underwent VIA, 21.6% were VIA positive, 63.7% VIA negative, and 14.7% had indeterminate findings. The prevalence of hrHPV infection (n = 614) was 14.7%; C. trachomatis, 7.5%; N. gonorrhoeae, 8.0%; and T. vaginalis, 15.0%. VIA positive women were more likely to have HPV16 (odds ratio: 5.0; 95%CI: 1.6-15.6; P = 0.006) but there was no association between HPV18/45, all hrHPV types (combined), C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae or T. vaginalis. CONCLUSIONS: VIA positivity was associated with HPV16, but not with other hrHPV infections, nor with genital C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae or T. vaginalis in this setting.

Effects of Plasmodium falciparum infection on umbilical artery resistance and intrafetal blood flow distribution: a Doppler ultrasound study from Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Doppler velocimetry studies of umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow help to determine the presence and severity of fetal growth restriction. Increased UA resistance and reduced MCA pulsatility may indicate increased placental resistance and intrafetal blood flow redistribution. Malaria causes low birth weight and fetal growth restriction, but few studies have assessed its effects on uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow. METHODS: Colour-pulsed Doppler ultrasound was used to assess UA and MCA flow in 396 Papua New Guinean singleton fetuses. Abnormal flow was defined as an UA resistance index above the 90th centile, and/or a MCA pulsatility index and cerebroplacental ratio (ratio of MCA and UA pulsatility index) below the 10th centile of population-specific models fitted to the data. Associations between malaria (peripheral infection prior to and at ultrasound examination, and any gestational infection, i.e., 'exposure') and abnormal flow, and between abnormal flow and birth outcomes, were estimated. RESULTS: Of 78 malaria infection episodes detected before or at the ultrasound visit, 62 (79.5%) were Plasmodium falciparum (34 sub-microscopic infections), and 16 were Plasmodium vivax. Plasmodium falciparum infection before or at Doppler measurement was associated with increased UA resistance (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.3 95% CI 1.0-5.2, P = 0.047). When assessed by 'exposure', P. falciparum infection was significantly associated with increased UA resistance (all infections: 2.4, 1.1-4.9, P = 0.024; sub-microscopic infections 2.6, 1.0-6.6, P = 0.051) and a reduced MCA pulsatility index (all infections: 2.6, 1.2-5.3, P = 0.012; sub-microscopic infections: 2.8, 1.1-7.5, P = 0.035). Sub-microscopic P. falciparum infections were additionally associated with a reduced cerebroplacental ratio (3.64, 1.22-10.88, P = 0.021). There were too few P. vivax infections to draw robust conclusions. An increased UA resistance index was associated with histological evidence of placental malaria (5.1, 2.3-10.9, P < 0.001; sensitivity 0.26, specificity 0.93). A low cerebroplacental Doppler ratio was associated with concurrently measuring small-for-gestational-age, and with low birth weight. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Both microscopic and sub-microscopic P. falciparum infections impair fetoplacental and intrafetal flow, at least temporarily. Increased UA resistance has high specificity but low sensitivity for the detection of placental infection. These findings suggest that interventions to protect the fetus should clear and prevent both microscopic and sub-microscopic malarial infections. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01136850. Registered 06 April 2010.

Twelve month follow-up of a contraceptive implant outreach service in rural Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Poor access to contraception contributes to persistently high maternal mortality rates in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since 2012 contraceptive implants have been provided to women in rural areas of PNG through outreach services but follow-up data in these communities on continuation and acceptability is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into women's experience with contraceptive implants by assessing the acceptability, satisfaction, 12 month continuation rates and efficacy of contraceptive implants among women in rural PNG. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional survey of women in two rural provinces who had received a contraceptive implant at least 12 months prior using a structured questionnaire. We sought information on device continuation rates, satisfaction scores, side effects and failure rates. RESULTS: Of the 860 women surveyed, 97% (n = 836) still had the device in situ after 12 months and 92% (n = 793) were very happy with it. Seventy-six percent of women (n = 654) reported no side effects. Irregular bleeding was the most commonly reported side effect (n = 178, 20.6%) but only 7% (n = 13) said the bleeding was bothersome. Documented failure rates were 0.8% although pregnancy at the time of insertion could not be excluded in any of these cases. CONCLUSION: Twelve month implant follow-up data in this study showed high continuation rates and high levels of satisfaction among a rural population in PNG. Implants have the potential to lower maternal morbidity and mortality and simultaneously address the unmet need for contraception in these communities.

A novel point-of-care testing strategy for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in high-burden settings: results of a feasibility study in Papua New Guinea.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted and genital infections in pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes. High prevalences of sexually transmitted infections have been identified among antenatal attenders in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has amongst the highest neonatal mortality rates worldwide, with preterm birth and low birth weight major contributors to neonatal mortality. The overall aim of our study was to determine if a novel point-of-care testing and treatment strategy for the sexually transmitted and genital infections Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy is feasible in the high-burden, low-income setting of Papua New Guinea. METHODS: Women attending their first antenatal clinic visit were invited to participate. CT/NG and TV were tested using the GeneXpert platform (Cepheid, USA), and BV tested using BVBlue (Gryphus Diagnostics, USA). Participants received same-day test results and antibiotic treatment as indicated. Routine antenatal care including HIV and syphilis screening were provided. RESULTS: Point-of-care testing was provided to 125/222 (56 %) of women attending routine antenatal care during the three-month study period. Among the 125 women enrolled, the prevalence of CT was 20.0 %; NG, 11.2 %; TV, 37.6 %; and BV, 17.6 %. Over half (67/125, 53.6 %) of women had one or more of these infections. Most women were asymptomatic (71.6 %; 47/67). Women aged 24 years and under were more likely to have one or more STI compared with older women (odds ratio 2.38; 95 % CI: 1.09, 5.21). Most women with an STI received treatment on the same day (83.6 %; 56/67). HIV prevalence was 1.6 % and active syphilis 4.0 %. CONCLUSION: Point-of-care STI testing and treatment using a combination of novel, newly-available assays was feasible during routine antenatal care in this setting. This strategy has not previously been evaluated in any setting and offers the potential to transform STI management in pregnancy and to prevent their associated adverse health outcomes.