Birth defects: traditional explanations of causation recalled by medical and dental students in Papua New Guinea at the commencement of their preclinical education.

Three intakes of medical and dental students to the University of Papua New Guinea were asked to recall traditional explanations of the causes of birth defects. Of 71 students who responded to the questionnaire 56% were from Papua New Guinea. The explanations were grouped into the principal categories of supernatural (39%), environmental (37%) and genetic (14%). The dominant themes were punishment, wrong foods, genetic faults, breaking of taboos, spirits, injuries, drugs, sexual misdemeanours, sorcery and illness. Health workers who counsel parents of babies with birth defects should bear these beliefs in mind and try to reconcile them with scientific explanations for birth defects, particularly as the aetiology of most defects is still unknown.