Operational research highlights ongoing challenges for comprehensive TB services in Papua New Guinea

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Operational Research

Background:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG) experiences a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), with an incidence rate of 432 per 100,000 population.
• Challenges in TB care include high rates of loss to follow-up and increasing detection of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
• The second Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT-IT) for TB was conducted in PNG during 2022-2023.

Discussion:

• The SORT-IT initiative trained eight participants, generating research outputs on critical operational issues within the PNG TB program.
• These research projects cover diverse settings, providing insights into the practical challenges of TB management.
• The findings underscore the need for context-specific, evidence-based interventions to improve TB control strategies in PNG.

Key Insights:

• Operational research is vital for identifying and addressing bottlenecks in TB service delivery.
• Participant-led research highlighted current challenges in TB patient care and program implementation.
• The initiative fostered research capacity, producing actionable data for the national TB program.

Outlook:

• Further research outputs from the SORT-IT initiative will be published in subsequent issues, offering a comprehensive view of TB operational challenges.
• The insights gained are expected to inform policy and practice, aiming to reduce TB incidence and improve treatment outcomes in PNG.
• Continued investment in operational research training is essential for strengthening TB control programs in high-burden settings.