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

Quality care improves maternal and newborn health outcomes. Quality maternal and newborn care refers to the provision of evidence-based and respectful care to women and newborns by experienced and competent healthcare providers in a well-equipped and supportive environment. There is a need to prioritise improving the quality of maternal and newborn care globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries, such as Papua New Guinea, where women and newborns experience high rates of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Papua New Guinea is a country situated in the South Pacific region, with a population of around nine million. East New Britain is a rural province in the Islands region of Papua New Guinea, with a population of approximately 400,000. Most Papua New Guineans live in rural and remote areas like East New Britain, making healthcare access geographically challenging. Geographical access issues can be further compounded by financial and cultural factors, as well as health system limitations such as health workforce shortages, inadequate health service infrastructure and a lack of essential medicines and supplies. Implementing interventions to improve the quality of maternal and newborn care in Papua New Guinea must be preceded by a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the quality of maternal and newborn care provided and experienced. This PhD study aimed to fill this knowledge gap and examined the provision and experience of quality maternal and newborn care in five health facilities in East New Britain using a three-phased participatory methodology called partnership-defined quality. This PhD study was part of the Gutpela Helt Sevis, Helti Mama Bel, Helti Beibi Stadi (Quality of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Newborn Health Services Study), and sits within the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies research program. The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies program was established in 2015, and is led by Burnet Institute in