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HMHB: The impact of nutrition and infections on health for pregnant women and young children

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies in PNG: The impact of nutrition, malaria and STIs on pregnant women and infants.

In resource-poor regions globally, pregnant women experience high rates of malaria, undernutrition and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which can lead to maternal morbidity and mortality and in infants, low birth weight (LBW), and stunting (poor growth and development).

The objective of this project is to determine the major preventable causes of poor maternal health and child health to enable the development of future interventions to improve health and well being for young children and pregnant women.

We have undertaken a longitudinal study of pregnant women attending antenatal care, and followed them through to delivery and early childhood. Among these women, we are investigating nutrition and specific micronutrient deficiencies, metabolic profiles, anemia, and the presence of important infections, such as malaria and infections of the reproductive tract.

We are investigating how nutritional deficiencies, infections, and metabolic profiles impact on birth outcomes, child growth and development, and maternal health.

Burnet’s research program in rural PNG, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, is a partnership with the PNG Institute of Medical Research, East New Britain Provincial Government, University of PNG, the National Department of Health, and others.

Professor James Beeson

Please contact Professor James Beeson for more information about this project.

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Partners +
Collaborators

  • PNG Institute for Medical Research, East New Britain
  • Provincial Health Authority, University of PNG