TB leading cause of death: Study

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death among people aged between 15 and 64 years old, a research shows.
Dr Bang Pham, principal investigator and head of population health and demography at the PNG Institute of Medical Research, said these diseases were responsible for 23 per cent of the total deaths recorded in this age range.
“Ironically, younger adults are dying from TB and HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), especially those aged 25-34 years,” he said.
“These diseases have killed two in every five adults among this population.
“This raises concerns about the sustainable development of the country as these young people are the main labour force and the most productive in the national and household economies.”
The study used mortality data from the comprehensive health and epidemiological surveillance system (Chess), a research programme funded by the National Government as part of the PNG’s medium term development plan 2018-2022.
Clinician Norah Abori said the information on deaths were collected in the period 2018-2020 through 926 interviews with close relatives of the deceased, who died in the communities within the sentinel surveillance sites in Central, Eastern Highlands, Madang, East Sepik, East New Britain and Port Moresby.
She said more targeted public health programmes and interventions were needed to reduce premature mortalities from TB and HIV/AIDS among young population, particularly women living in rural areas and from households with low socio-economic status.
Abori called for urgent actions and special attention from Government and the health sector to review the current strategic plans for further improvements in the implementation of TB and HIV/AIDS programmes in the next decade.