title: Beyond the numbers: Papua New Guinean perspectives on the major health conditions and programs of the country.
abstract: How members of the community perceive and respond to diseases and health problems are important variables to take into account when planning interventions and priorities in a health system. This paper summarizes some qualitative research undertaken in 2001 and 2002 in Papua New Guinea as part of the formative research for health promotion activity development for immunization, maternal health, tuberculosis and malaria services. It provides some highlights of the health beliefs and health-seeking behaviours amongst a range of urban and rural populations in a range of provinces in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and across a range of age groups including young adults. The findings reinforce that these health-related issues are seen by most of the population as important, although maternal health lags behind, especially in male respondents' perspectives. However, how they respond varies often with the planned health system interventions, and these differences need to be understood and addressed in order to increase the acceptability and efficiency of health services in PNG.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piliwas
authors.forename: Jubal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agale
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yaipupu
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*