Improving the Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care in Papua New Guinea

High quality care saves lives. Poor quality care in pregnancy and childbirth, including unkind or disrespectful care, is a major reason for women choosing not to access health care. Rates of death and preventable illness are greater when women do not access care. However, the risk of poor outcomes (death and disability) is also increased when women do attend a facility, but the care they receive is sub-standard or of poor quality. There are considerable challenges in providing health care in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the outcomes for women and babies remain poor. The ‘Gutpela Helt Sevis, Helti Mama Bel, Helti Beibi Stadi’ (Quality Health Care, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Study) is a study based in East New Britain, PNG which aims to improve the quality of maternal and newborn care. The study is partnering alongside the East New Britain Provincial Health Authority to work with five health facilities that provide various levels of maternity care. The Gutpela Sevis study uses a unique ‘Partnership Defined Quality’ approach to empower both communities and health facilities to work together in identifying and defining quality, and subsequently problem-solving strategies to improve quality. This project moves beyond just listening to community views and opinions by actively engaging the women and their partners alongside healthcare workers, with shared responsibility and ownership of efforts to improve quality care. Various projects are available for postgraduate research students to work with the Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group on the Gutpela Sevis Study at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne. Projects would allow the successful candidate to gain experience in global maternal and newborn health research, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with view to a scientific publication.