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.

Projects

• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
  A collaborative research program aimed at providing life-saving health care for women and children in PNG.
• HMHB - Health Services for Postnatal and Infancy Care
  Focuses on services during postnatal period and through the first 12 months in East New Britain, PNG.
• HMHB: The impact of nutrition, malaria and STIs on pregnant women and infants
  Determining the major preventable causes of poor maternal health and low birth weight of babies in PNG.