Overview
Burnet’s groundbreaking Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) collaborative
research project aims to define the major causes of poor maternal, newborn, and infant
health in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where the rate of maternal mortality is 80
times that of Australia.
The HMHB experienced team of laboratory and field researchers specialising in maternal and child health, paediatric medicine, infectious diseases, epidemiology, and public health, bring a diverse range of technical skills to the project.
They work closely with the five busiest health facilities in East New Britain (ENB) province, who provide services for most pregnant women in that region.
The first two of five major research studies are underway. In the Mothers and Babies Follow-Up Study our researchers are following a group of 700 women to find out what health problems are complicating their pregnancy or affecting the mother and baby in
the 12-month period after pregnancy.
The HMHB Health Services in Postnatal and Infancy Study involved partnerships with the PNG Institute for Medical Research, national stakeholders and the East New Britain Provincial Health Office.
Our committed field team based in Kokopo, East New Britain also includes clinical research officers, laboratory staff, drivers, data managers and administrative project staff, led by Research Project Manager Dr Liz Peach.
Collaborators
- PNG IMR
- Professor William Pomat
- Kirby Institute
- University of PNG
- Dr Chris Morgan
