[1] The nature of tropical climate variability 350 ka is addressed using dO and Sr/Ca records from a modern and a fossil coral from Vanuatu (southwestern tropical Pacific Ocean). Modern El Niño events at Vanuatu produce positive coral dO and Sr/Ca anomalies; similar anomalies observed in the fossil coral records suggest that El Niño was operative 350 kyr ago. Seasonal variations in coral Sr/Ca,...

Article history: Initial receipt 10 May 2017 Final revision received 12 February 2018 Available online xxxx Two studies examined children's reasoning about biological kinds in populations that vary in formal education and direct experience with the natural world, a Western (urban U.S.) and a Non-Western population (Tanna, Vanuatu). Study 1 examined children's concepts of ecological relatedness ...

In 2012, Vanuatu designed and implemented a syndromic surveillance system based on the guidelines developed by the Pacific Community and the World Health Organization to provide early warning of outbreaks and other important public health events. Four core syndromes were endorsed for surveillance: acute fever and rash, prolonged fever, influenza-like illness and acute watery diarrhoea. In March...

INTRODUCTION The end of 2015 will see the creation of the sustainable development goals - the new global framework for development. The process of creating universally relevant goals has involved community consultation throughout the world. Within this process it is vital that Pacific Island countries are included as they face particular development challenges due to their size and geographical...

BACKGROUND Onset of sexual activity during adolescence is common in Vanuatu, however access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information is limited. Improving adolescents' knowledge about SRH is necessary to improve health outcomes, however little is known about the information needs and preferences of adolescents in the Pacific to inform policy and programs in this region....

Understanding the transmission and movement of Plasmodium parasites is crucial for malaria elimination and prevention of resurgence. Located at the limit of malaria transmission in the Pacific, Vanuatu is an ideal candidate for elimination programs due to low endemicity and the isolated nature of its island setting. We analyzed the variation in the merozoite surface protein 1 (msp1) and the cir...

This paper draws on a recent household survey to examine the incidence and depth of poverty in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It replicates the Multidimensional Poverty Index recently developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. This represents the first time that the Multidimensional Poverty Index is calculated for the Solomon Islands and the first time that it is report...

AIMS To establish the presence or absence of trachoma in the Pacific Island region. METHODS Trachoma Rapid Assessment methodology was used in Kiribati, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. Advised by key informants, high-risk communities were chosen from each country. All available children aged 1-9 years and adults > or = 40 years were examined. RESULTS A total of 903 adults > or = 40...

This thesis examines similarities and differences between rock-art sites in Vanuatu and the broader western Pacific region, and situates the results within the framework of Pacific prehistory. Prior to this thesis, regional models of rock-art in the western Pacific were founded on corresponding distributions of non-motif variables, such as technical classes (painting or engraving), topographic ...