ABSTRACT
The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka initiated the Healthy Lifestyle Centres (HLCs) in 2011, to address the lack of a structured noncommunicable disease (NCD) screening service through the lowest level of primary health-care institutions. The main service objective of the HLCs is to reduce the risk of NCDs of 40–65 year olds by detecting risk factors early and improving access to specialized care for those with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The screened clients are managed at HLCs, based on the total-risk approach to assess their 10-year CVD risk, using the World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension risk-prediction chart. Those with a 10-year CVD risk of more than 30% are referred to the specialized medical clinics, while others are managed with lifestyle modification and are requested to visit the HLC for rescreening, based on the levels of CVD risk and intermediate risk factors. Identified challenges to date include: underutilization of services, especially by men; weak staff adherence to protocols; lack of integration into pre-existing NCD-screening services; non-inclusion of screening for all the major NCDs; and human resources. The government plans to address these challenges as a priority, within the context of the National multisectoral action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs in Sri Lanka 2016–2020. Key interventions include: extended opening hours for HLCs, outreach activities in workplaces, and integration with “well woman clinics”. Costs related to actions have been realistically estimated. Some actions have already been initiated, while others are being designed with identified funds.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco promotions are linked to tobacco consumption in adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge of and exposure and responses to tobacco-promotional activities and factors associated with knowledge among adolescents in a rural setting in Sri Lanka. Methods: Seven schools in Polonnaruwa district were randomly selected for this cross-sectional study. Adolescents (n = 500) aged 14–15 years in grade 10 were selected using convenience sampling and studied by using a self-administered questionnaire during June–October 2014. The questions on exposure to tobaccopromotional activities were based on the validated questionnaire of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Adolescents were categorized into two levels of knowledge, exposure and responses to tobacco promotions, based on the scores obtained. Selected factors associated with knowledge of tobacco promotions were assessed using univarate and multivariate analyses. Results: The response rate was 99.6% (498/500). The mean age of the adolescents was 14.9 years (standard deviation ±0.37) and the proportion of females was slightly higher (n = 280, 56.2%) than for males. The prevalence of current smoking was 3.2% (n = 16). Half (48.6%, n = 242) of the adolescents had a good level of knowledge of tobacco-promotional activities. Most (64.9%, n = 323) had experienced a low level of exposure to tobacco-promotional activities, while 85.7% (n = 427) indicated that they had responded/would respond assertively to exposure to tobacco promotion. In the univariate analysis, having a mother with a high level of education (odds ratio [OR] 1.742), having a father with a high level of education (OR 1.997) and the student attending a type 1AB school (OR 1.310) were significant factors associated with a good level of knowledge of tobaccopromotional activities. A father with a high level of education (adjusted OR 1.772) and the student attending a type 1AB school (adjusted OR 1.455) were the factors associated with a good level of knowledge for tobacco-promotional activities, when confounding effects of the variables were taken into consideration. Conclusion: Knowledge of tobacco-promotional activities was poor among the adolescents in the rural setting in Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, most of the adolescents in the study population indicated that their responses to such exposures were/ would be assertive.
ABSTRACT
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major health concern for women worldwide. Prevalence rates for IPV are high in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region, but little is known about health-sector responses in this area. Health-care professionals can play an important role in supporting women who are seeking recourse from IPV. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify relevant published and grey literature over the last 35 years that focused on IPV, partner/ spousal violence, wife beating/abuse/battering, domestic violence, and Sri Lanka. Much of the information about current health-sector response to IPV in Sri Lanka was not reported in published and grey literature. Therefore, key personnel from the Ministry of Health, hospitals, universities and nongovernmental organizations were also interviewed to gain additional, accurate and timely information. It was found that the health-sector response to IPV in Sri Lanka is evolving, and consists of two models of service provision: (i) gender based violence desks, which integrate selective services at the provider/facility level; and (ii) Mithuru Piyasa (Friendly Abode) service points, which integrate comprehensive services at the provider/facility level and some at the system level. This paper presents each model’s strengths and limitations in providing comprehensive and integrated health services for women who experience IPV in the Sri Lankan context.
ABSTRACT
Part of the JOL Project Supported by INASP Sri Lanka Journals OnLine (SLJOL) is a service to provide access to Sri Lankan published research, and increase worldwide knowledge of indigenous scholarship. Read more. Log in Username Password Remember me Search Journal Content All Authors Title Abstract Index terms Full Text Browse •By Issue •By Author •By Title •Other Journals Popular Articles » Incidence of breast and nipple abnormalities among primigravid women in Sri Lanka 2576 views » BCG vaccination scars of childen under five years in a tertiary care hospital 2513 views » Megalopenis in an infant with VACTERL association 2314 views » Prevalence of talipes equinovarus, congenital dislocation of the hip, cleft lip/cleft palate, Down syndrome and neural tube defects among live newborns in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka 2096 views » Two cases of monkey tapeworm (Bertiella studeri) infestation from Sabaragamuwa Province 2050 views » Mycoplasma pneumoniae: An unrecognized cause of pyrexia of unknown origin 1752 views » A survey of breakfast practices of 4-12 year old children 1750 views About The Authors MP Senanayake Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo Sri Lanka HMLN Parakramadasa Registered Medical Officer, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo Sri Lanka Article Tools Print this article Indexing metadata How to cite item Review policy Email this article (Login required) Email the author (Login required) Information •For Readers •For Authors •For Librarians Home > Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health > Vol 41, No 1 (2012) Knowledge, practices and concerns regarding exclusive breastfeeding for six months among mothers of infants in a suburban setting in Sri Lanka B L Kamal Dhammika, Nalika S Gunawardena Abstract Objective: To assess the knowledge, practices and concerns on six months exclusive breastfeeding among mothers. Method: In a community based household survey in Kaduwela MOH area, 217 mothers with a baby aged <1 year were interviewed. Results: Of the mothers, 45% had >6 months old babies. All mothers knew the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Advantages of breastfeeding to the child were well known. Among those with ≤6 month old babies, current exclusive breastfeeding rate was 85%. Of those with >6 months old babies, 72% had exclusively breastfed them for 6 months. Mothers with ≤6 months old babies not being exclusively breast fed and the mothers with >6 months old babies not exclusively breastfed for 6 months, indicated that having to return to work (50%) and their opinions regarding amount of milk being inadequate (44%) and nutrients being inadequate (18%) as the reasons for not exclusively breast feeding up to the recommended age. Conclusions: Current breast feeding rate and proportions exclusively breast fed were high. Knowledge regarding the duration of breast feeding and other essential aspects was good.