Papua New Guinea Medical Journal

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These articles are the latest published in the journal. Papua New Guinea Medical Journal is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 12 August 2025

MJ24006Factors affecting outcomes of patients with intestinal obstruction operatively managed at Alotau Provincial Hospital: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

Isaiah Borchem, Ian Umo and Kennedy James

 

This study investigated the surgical outcomes and factors associated with unfavourable outcomes in patients with intestinal obstruction at Alotau Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea, from January 2020 to December 2022. Several clinical features were significantly associated with poor outcomes, including vomiting, abdominal distension, dehydration, vital sign abnormalities (tachycardia, fever, tachypnoea, hypotension), radiological and laboratory findings (air-fluid levels on X-ray, leucocytosis, granulocytosis), and intensive care unit admission. The findings emphasise the importance of timely surgical intervention, particularly in patients showing signs of sepsis.

MJ24006 Abstract  |  MJ24006 Full Text  | MJ24006PDF (325 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 August 2025

MJ25005Describing primary care in rural Western Province, Papua New Guinea

Mikaela Seymour , Maggy Mase, Maria Rumints, Belinda Yamkeok, Margaret Eko, Jamee Newland, Nalisa Neuendorf, Pamela Toliman and Angela Kelly-Hanku

 

Despite outpatient services providing healthcare to the rural majority, little is currently known about primary care presentations to outpatient services in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This paper provides a description of the types of presentations experienced by health outreach patrols in Western Province, PNG. The information in this study should support health needs analyses to better inform the planning of rural primary care services.

MJ25005 Abstract  |  MJ25005 Full Text  | MJ25005PDF (850 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 04 August 2025

MJ24007The direct medical cost of managing traumatic brain injuries at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea: a prospective cost of illness study

Walter Paka, Ian Umo, Esther Apuahe and Benjamin Thomas

 

The direct medical cost of managing traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in Papua New Guinea has not been well-documented. This study, conducted at Port Moresby General Hospital, determined that the average cost of managing a TBI patient was K81,127.00 (US$20,281.75). Severe head injuries incurred the highest cost per classification, averaging K95,328.03 (US$23,832.01) per patient (s.d. ±255). Notably, 76.6% of cases involved alcohol consumption. To mitigate the economic burden of TBIs, public health interventions and government policies should prioritise regulating alcohol production and consumption and enhancing road traffic safety measures.

MJ24007 Abstract  |  MJ24007 Full Text  | MJ24007PDF (340 KB)  | MJ24007Supplementary Material (10.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 01 August 2025

MJ24008The direct medical cost of operatively managing forearm fractures at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea: a retrospective cost-of-illness study

Kila Garo, Ian Umo, Jackson Nuli, Richard Kulau, Henao Asa and Ikau Kevau

 

The direct medical cost of operatively managing forearm fractures is unknown in Papua New Guinea. This study, conducted at Port Moresby General Hospital, found that the average direct medical cost of treating a patient with a forearm fracture was K22,613.60 (US$5548.12). Alcohol-related violence was associated with 30.2% of all cases managed. The cost of treatment reflects the economic burden forearm fractures have on the health system.

MJ24008 Abstract  |  MJ24008 Full Text  | MJ24008PDF (391 KB)  | MJ24008Supplementary Material (10.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 01 August 2025

MJ24003Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in two provincial hospitals of Papua New Guinea

Ian Umo, Alexia Wangnapi, Venessa Soctine, Dorothy Adilawa, Prisca Joroto, Michealynne Kulai and Robert J. Commons

 

Papua New Guinea, a low- to middle-income country in the Western Pacific, has one of the world’s lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates, with less than 4% of adults vaccinated despite international funding. The country faces a financial crisis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reasons for low vaccine uptake remain unclear. This first COVID-19 research in Papua New Guinea aimed to identify factors influencing vaccination uptake, with findings intended to inform strategies to increase vaccination coverage and achieve herd immunity.

MJ24003 Abstract  |  MJ24003 Full Text  | MJ24003PDF (339 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 29 July 2025

MJ25004_COCorrigendum to: Professor John Vince: a remarkable 5 decades of service to health in Papua New Guinea

Trevor Duke, Cornelia Kilalang, Nakapi Tefuarani and James Amini

 

MJ25004_CO Full Text  | MJ25004_COPDF (283 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 04 July 2025

MJ25004Professor John Vince: a remarkable 5 decades of service to health in Papua New Guinea

Trevor Duke , Cornelia Kilalang, Nakapi Tefuarani and James Amini

 

MJ25004 Full Text  | MJ25004PDF (517 KB)  | MJ25004Corrigendum (283 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 04 July 2025

MJ24010Management and outcomes of retained placenta at a provincial hospital in Papua New Guinea: a retrospective observational study

John Kukiti, Ian Umo, Alice Siwawata, Rodney Talo and Grace Kariwiga

 

Retained placenta accounted for 35% of maternal deaths at the Alotau Provincial Hospital in Papua New Guinea between 2014 and 2022. This retrospective study analysed 180 cases from 13,731 deliveries over 8 years (2014–2022). The incidence of retained placenta was 1.9%. The mortality rate was 0.6% with most emergencies arising from unsupervised village births, despite the increase in supervised deliveries.

MJ24010 Abstract  |  MJ24010 Full Text  | MJ24010PDF (497 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 02 July 2025

MJ22002Total colonic aganglionosis – long-segment Hirschsprung disease management successfully performed in Papua New Guinea

J. Mulu, O. H. Poki, I. Kevau and S. Fose

 

MJ22002 Abstract  |  MJ22002 Full Text  | MJ22002PDF (773 KB)   Open Access Article

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1. Open indirect inguinal hernia repair: a feasibility study on simple purse-string suture (SPSS) application at deep ring

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 65 (1)

   Elvis B. Japhleth, Edwin M. Machine

2. Total colonic aganglionosis – long-segment Hirschsprung disease management successfully performed in Papua New Guinea

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 65 (1)

   J. Mulu, O. H. Poki, I. Kevau, S. Fose

3. Head injury management in a resource limited setting – a prospective analysis of head injury patients and their outcomes in a provincial hospital in Papua New Guinea

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 64 (1)

   Kennedy James, Ikau Kevau

4. Prevalence of enteric pathogens in shellfish in Madang Province of Papua New Guinea

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 64 (1)

   Sinafa Robby, Monalisa P. Kas, Kevin Soli, Glennis Rai, Andrew R. Greenhill, Lloyd Werry, Stephanie Tringin, Kathleen Diapong, Aisak Pue, William Pomat, Kari Iamba, Paul F. Horwood, Mohammad Yazid Abdad

5. Management and outcomes of retained placenta at a provincial hospital in Papua New Guinea: a retrospective observational study

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

   John Kukiti, Ian Umo, Alice Siwawata, Rodney Talo, Grace Kariwiga

6. The direct medical cost of operatively managing forearm fractures at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea: a retrospective cost-of-illness study

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

   Kila Garo, Ian Umo, Jackson Nuli, Richard Kulau, Henao Asa, Ikau Kevau

7. The direct medical cost of managing traumatic brain injuries at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea: a prospective cost of illness study

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

   Walter Paka, Ian Umo, Esther Apuahe, Benjamin Thomas

8. Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in two provincial hospitals of Papua New Guinea

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

   Ian Umo, Alexia Wangnapi, Venessa Soctine, Dorothy Adilawa, Prisca Joroto, Michealynne Kulai, Robert J. Commons

9. Healthcare workers’ willingness to respond to duty during infectious disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries in the Western Pacific Region: a pilot study in Papua New Guinea

   Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 64 (1)

   Anna Oswald, Matt Mason, Vanessa Sparke, Peta-Anne Zimmerman

10. Describing primary care in rural Western Province, Papua New Guinea

    Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

    Mikaela Seymour , Maggy Mase, Maria Rumints, Belinda Yamkeok, Margaret Eko, Jamee Newland, Nalisa Neuendorf, Pamela Toliman, Angela Kelly-Hanku

11. Factors affecting outcomes of patients with intestinal obstruction operatively managed at Alotau Provincial Hospital: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

    Papua New Guinea Medical Journal 66 (1)

    Isaiah Borchem, Ian Umo, Kennedy James