Tuberculosis spread in the Torres Strait region

• Reach:

  International

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

Australia and Papua New Guinea's (PNG) relationship is unique, sharing a common border, a shared history and more recently a mutual concern for the rising prevalence of tuberculosis in the Torres Strait region. Tuberculosis control is of concern to both Australia and PNG, with the prevalence of tuberculosis, including multi-drug resistant tuberculosis increasing in PNG, and although Australia has among the world's lowest rates of tuberculosis it remains more common in Indigenous Australian populations.

This collaborative project aims to improve the health outcomes for the Torres Strait region populations and has a collective of expertise from both Australia and Papua New Guinea who aim to;

1. Identify patient, community and health service factors associated with improved tuberculosis case detection and treatment completion in the Torres Strait region.
2. Develop epidemiological models informed by the outputs of aim1 that will be the basis for cost-effectiveness analysis of current and potential tuberculosis control interventions in the region.

Abstract adapted from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health

Contacts

Dr Kamalini Lokuge
A/g Director
Master of Applied Epidemiology Program
Australian National University College of Medicine Biology and Environment
Ph: (02) 6125 6303
Email: kamalini.lokuge@anu.edu.au

Links

• View information: Australian National University - current projects
• View information: Tuberculosis spread in the Torres Strait region