The importance of nutrition education in Papua New Guinea - Improving the nutritional health of women and children in Papua New Guinea Case Study Click on the following links for further information about this case study: Teacher's Notes Student Activities Background Papua New Guinea's (PNG) health concerns are enormous. The Government acknowledges that there are serious weaknesses in their health care system that need to be addressed. The Australian Government's overseas aid program to PNG is experiencing essential change from budget support to program aid in priority sectors including health. Projects are structured to: improve low cost primary and preventive health services in rural communities; build long-term institutional capacity; improve operational areas that impact upon service delivery; and encourage greater involvement of non-government service providers such as the churches. The project One such initiative is the Women's and Children's Health Project. The project's goal is to contribute to major improvements in the health of women and children in PNG, including the reduction of nutrition related disorders. The project is designed to run for five years and began in June 1998. The project had a six month commencement stage and is currently undergoing a 4 1/2-year implementation period. The project comprises of four integrated components: the organisation and management of women's and children's health care services; the infrastructure and equipment for women's and children's health care services; health services delivery for women and children; and community based initiatives in health care for women and children. The project targets women and children who will individually benefit from a decreased risk of morbidity and mortality. Women's important role in the family means that their health status affects the health of their children, the family and the community. Yet they and their children are often the most affected by ill health. Prior to June 1998, there was an increased incidence in the malnutrition rate among the under five-year old children in PNG. Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a significant form of malnutrition for both children and adults. The main causes of PEM in children are low birth weight, inadequate nutrient intake and illness due to infectious diseases. A child's brain may not grow to its genetic potential if protein intake is not sufficient during their early years. This will limit their intellectual development. The association between malnutrition and chronic infections in children is also a major concern. The project targets women and children who are most affected by ill health.   Additional nutritional disorders for both the mother and child include iodine deficiency disorders, communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and iron deficiency anaemia. Iodine deficiencies can lead to retardation of growth and development. The retardation of brain development in the foetus during pregnancy, in early infancy and in childhood is a major issue. Iodine in food is determined by the amount of iodine in the soil. Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy is quite common: the brain is deprived of oxygen, increasing the risk of death for both the mother and unborn child or resulting in poor health and reduced learning and working capacities throughout life. The serious state of women's and children's health in PNG has been well documented. One hundred and fourteen out of every 1000 children born alive will die before they reach five years of age. Poor nutrition, diarrhoeal diseases and communicable diseases such as acute respiratory infections and malaria contribute to high levels of child morbidity and mortality. Children's health is also threatened by the shortage of dietary Vitamin A as it lowers their resistance to disease. At least 38% of all children in PNG are less than 80% of the average weight for their age. PNG has the worst level of malnutrition in children under five in the pacific region. This is attributed to a number of factors: poor weaning practices; lack of knowledge about nutritional needs; and frequent bouts with infection including diarrhoeal diseases. Poor child nutrition is associated with poverty. Lack of proper food has been linked to a range of health issues such as learning disabilities, blindness, hearing loss, impaired brain development and low resistance to disease. A widespread problem is the lack of funds for measures addressing nutrition. The project supports the training and improvement of the knowledge of provincial and district level health staff. It supports a program to develop health workers' skills and knowledge in the identification and management of nutrition disorders. Some health workers will be given the opportunity to gain graduate and postgraduate qualifications in nutrition. Trainee health workers will also benefit in their formal training where the coursework is being reviewed and appropriate nutrition education modules developed. The health workers' ability to evaluate community requirements and respond with local activities will also be addressed. Community members will become better informed about the causes and prevention of common illnesses including diarrhoeal diseases and malnutrition. Community members showing their certificates after completing a course in nutrition education.   Emphasis will also be placed on educating maternal and child health clinic staff to improve skills in the early detection of growth faltering and malnutrition with correct weighting and interpretation of the growth lines as well as use of the mid upper arm circumference tap. An infant's health is linked to their birth weight. A baby with a low birth weight is more likely to suffer from physical and mental defects. Children who do not receive enough nutritionally adequate food will grow slowly, lagging further behind as time passes. They are more likely to become underdeveloped adults who are less productive and suffer from chronic diseases. Stunted growth will also decrease their chances of learning potential and disease immunity and increase their chances of a premature death. A series of 'Train the Trainer' courses will be run so that staff may conduct in-services course for all other health centre staff and aid post workers.   Top © Commonwealth of Australia