EXPLORING TUBERCULOSIS LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TB NARRATIVES IN MADANG PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) in Papua New Guinea is shaped not only by biomedical realities but also by language, culture, and structural constraints. This study aimed to understand the languages that the community and healthcare providers use to provide TB care services in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Methods: This study applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to semi-structured interviews with health workers in Madang Province to examine how TB is communicated and understood from January to May 2026. A purposive sample of 15 healthcare workers were recruited from six primary healthcare facilities. Results: Findings reveal a discursive ecosystem in which metaphors (“white ants eating a tree,” “jump jump/kalap kalap”), stigma (“killer disease,” “dai pinis”), and cultural beliefs (sorcery, poison) intersect with systemic barriers, including transportation and diagnostic shortages. Health workers adapt their language to patients' literacy levels, balancing biomedical terminology with local expressions to promote treatment adherence and reduce fear. Conclusion: The study highlights how language mediates between biomedical authority and local cultural meaning, thereby shaping patient behavior and community perceptions. It calls for culturally grounded communication strategies, stigma-sensitive discourse, and structural support to strengthen TB control in Papua New Guinea.