Middleton, Jo, Abdad, Mohammad Yazid, Beauchamp, Emilie, Colthart, Gavin, Cooper, Maxwell J F, Dem, Francesca, Fairhead, James, Grundy, Caroline L, Head, Michael G, Inacio, Joao, Jones, Christopher Iain, Macgregor, Hayley, Peck, Mika, Stewart, Alan J, Cassell, Jackie A and others, (2020) Health service needs and perspectives of remote forest communities in Papua New Guinea: study protocol for combined clinical and rapid anthropological assessments with parallel treatment of urgent cases. BMJ Open, 10 (10). a041784 1-11. ISSN 2044-6055

	PDF - Supplemental Material Download (449kB)
	PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial. Download (3MB)

Abstract

Introduction
Our project follows community requests for health service incorporation into conservation collaborations in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea (PNG). This protocol is for health needs assessments, our first step in coplanning medical provision in communities with no existing health data.

Methods and analysis
The study includes clinical assessments and rapid anthropological assessment procedures (RAP) exploring the health needs and perspectives of partner communities in two areas, conducted over 6 weeks fieldwork. First, in Wanang village (population c.200), which is set in lowland rainforest. Second, in six communities (population c.3000) along an altitudinal transect up the highest mountain in PNG, Mount Wilhelm. Individual primary care assessments incorporate physical examinations and questioning (providing qualitative and quantitative data) while RAP includes focus groups, interviews and field observations (providing qualitative data). Given absence of in-community primary care, treatments are offered alongside research activity but will not form part of the study. Data are collected by a research fellow, primary care clinician and two PNG research technicians. After quantitative and qualitative analyses, we will report: ethnoclassifications of disease, causes, symptoms and perceived appropriate treatment; community rankings of disease importance and service needs; attitudes regarding health service provision; disease burdens and associations with altitudinal-related variables and cultural practices. To aid wider use study tools are in online supplemental file, and paper and ODK versions are available free from the corresponding author.

Ethics and dissemination
Challenges include supporting informed consent in communities with low literacy and diverse cultures, moral duties to provide treatment alongside research in medically underserved areas while minimising risks of therapeutic misconception and inappropriate inducement, and PNG research capacity building. Brighton and Sussex Medical School (UK), PNG Institute of Medical Research and PNG Medical Research Advisory Committee have approved the study. Dissemination will be via journals, village meetings and plain language summaries.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	primary care, public health, anthropology, tropical medicine, epidemiology, qualitative research, health service administration and management
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Primary Care and Public Health School of Global Studies > Anthropology School of Life Sciences > Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Institute of Development Studies
Research Centres and Groups:	Sussex Sustainability Research Programme
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	06 Nov 2020 07:59
Last Modified:	20 Apr 2023 14:44
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/94811

View download statistics for this item

📧 Request an update