Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research

About: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research is a facility organization based out in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Malaria. The organization has 678 authors who have published 1117 publications receiving 43130 citations.

A typology of penile cutting in Papua New Guinea: results of a modified Delphi study among sexual health specialists

Abstract: Male circumcision (MC) significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition in men. The geographical, linguistic and cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea (PNG) makes issues of acceptability and implementation complex, and culturally appropriate HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) prevention strategies are crucial in this setting. A modified Delphi approach was conducted with sexual health specialists to document and classify variants of penile cutting as part of a programme of research being carried out to investigate the acceptability and potential epidemiological impact of MC for HIV prevention in PNG, and options for future roll-out. Three broad categories were identified: circumcision, longitudinal incisions (including dorsal slit procedures) and incisions that did not alter the profile of penis or foreskin. The typology provides a universal language for health practitioners and policy makers that will inform future sexual health deliberations. The popularity of dorsal slit procedures in PNG has significant implications due to its procedural simplicity and limited resource requirements, making it an attractive provider option compared to medical circumcision. Further research is urgently required to examine the effectiveness of dorsal slit procedures for HIV prevention in PNG, the prevalence of various forms of penile cutting and the extent to which health staff are currently engaged in dorsal slit procedures.

Malaria--a major health problem within an oil palm plantation around Popondetta, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract: For companies operating in malaria endemic countries, malaria represents a substantial risk to workers and their dependants, and can lead to significantly reduced worker productivity. This study provides an overview of the malaria epidemiology within an oil palm plantation in Popondetta, south-eastern Papua New Guinea, its implication for the company with its employees and their families and the potential for control. In 2006, we carried out a cross-sectional study within six company villages, which included the determination of parasite rates by conventional microscopy, interviews and haemoglobin measurements. Passive surveillance data were collected from the 13 company aid posts for the years 2005 and 2006. Malaria prevalence was found to be high: all-age prevalence was 33.5% (95% CI 30.1–37.0) in 723 individuals. Plasmodium falciparum was the dominant species, followed by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae. Children between five and nine years of age were most affected (40.3%, 95% CI 0.32–0.49). Haemoglobin levels were found to be low; 11.0 g/dl (95% CI 10.8–11.1) for men and 10.4 g/dl (95% CI 10.3–10.5) for women, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum infections were significantly associated with anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dl). At the aid posts, all malaria cases in 2005 and January-March 2006 were diagnosed by symptoms only, while from April 2006 onwards most cases were tested by rapid diagnostic tests. Between 2005 and 2006, 22,023 malaria cases were diagnosed at the aid posts and malaria accounted for 30–40% of all clinical cases. Of the malaria cases, 13–20% were HOP employees. On average, an employee sick with malaria was absent for 1.8 days, resulting in a total of 9,313 workdays lost between 2005 and 2006. Sleeping outside of the house did not increase the risk of a malaria infection, neither did getting up before 7 am. Malaria was found to be a major health burden in the Higaturu Oil Palm plantation, posing a high risk for company staff and their relatives, including expatriates and other non-immune workers. Reducing the malaria risk is a highly recommended investment for the company.

Genetic analysis of IgG subclass responses against RESA and MSP2 of Plasmodium falciparum in adults in Papua New Guinea.

Abstract: Contributions of environmental and genetic factors to IgG subclass responses against Plasmodium falciparum antigens RESA and MSP2 were investigated among adults in a highly endemic area of Papua New Guinea. Heritabilities were estimated using variance component analysis. Familial aggregation of several responses was found, including IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 responses against RESA, IgG1 and IgG3 responses against the 3D7 form of MSP2 and IgG1, IgG2 responses against the FC27 form of MSP2. Allowance for sharing of houses explained some of the non-genetic variance but not the familial aggregation. The variance of IgG3 responses against RESA and IgG1, IgG2 against MSP2 (FC27) was partly explained by sharing of HLA class II genotypes, although heritability was low. Segregation analyses indicated that any genetic regulation was more complex than governed by a single major gene. Such host genetic variation in responses to specific malaria antigens has implications for immuno-epidemiology and vaccine development.

Patterns of migration indicate sexual transmission of HTLV‐I infection in non‐pregnant women in papua new guinea

Abstract: The prevalence of infection with human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV-I) was studied in Madang Province on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. Serum specimens collected from non-pregnant women in 17 villages were tested for anti-HTLV-I by gelatin particle agglutination screening and confirmed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Overall, 13.9% of subjects were antibody-positive, with the prevalence of antibodies varying from less than 10% to 30% in villages situated less than 10 km apart. Two groups of migrant women were identified, and in both a parity-related increase in antibody prevalence which occurred only after marriage suggested that the predominant mode of transmission in migrant women was sexual. There was no parity-associated increase in anti-HTLV-I in indigenous women, and in contrast to migrant women, nulliparous indigenous women had a high prevalence of antibody (16.8% vs. 0%; p = 0.005). Vertical transmission cannot be excluded in indigenous women. No correlation was detected between the prevalence of anti-HTLV-I and a variety of indices of malarial infection.