Tubal ligation in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, with a scattered population of 130,000 suffers from irregular health patrols in remote areas, and often inadequate supplies of contraceptive agents. A total of 694 tubal ligations were performed by hospital staff under local anaesthesia between 1978 and 1982 in the province, the number increasing each year. Detailed analysis of 324 operations from 1979 to 1981 showed an average age of 34, average parity of 7 (84% of women had five or more children) and the presence of one or more high risk factors other than multiparity in half the women operated upon. Tubal ligation decreases maternal mortality, and has proven to be a useful method of family planning for multiparous women living in remote villages in Milne Bay Province.