Risk factors of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children under five years of age.

This study attempted to identify the determinants of acute lower respiratory-tract infections (ALRI) among children under five years of age, by comparing hundred children hospitalized with ALRI with a control group. Data on socio-demographic, biological and environmental characteristics were collected by interviewing mothers and anthropometric measurements were carried out to assess the nutritional status of the children. Risk of disease in the presence of each exposure was calculated in the univariate analysis and the best explanatory variables among them were identified in the multivariate analysis. The following variables were found to increase the risk of ALRI: (1) history of wheezing, (2) low birth weight, (3) passive smoking, (4) male sex, (5) delivery by cesarean section (6) sharing of sleeping space, (7) not being exclusively breast fed upto the completion of four months, (8) stunting, (9) having pets. The findings highlight some simple strategies which would help in prevention of ALRI.

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in the Gampaha district.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and some epidemiological features of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status in the Gampaha district. DESIGN: Community based survey. SETTING: The district of Gampaha. SUBJECTS: All individuals over six months of age who were resident in the Gampaha district for a period over one month at time of survey. RESULTS: The HBsAg positivity rate in the Gampaha district was estimated to be 2.5% (95% C.I. 2% to 3%). This places the area in the intermediate endemicity zone as classified by WHO. The epidemiology indicates horizontal intrafamilial spread being more important in the population studied, than vertical, parenteral or sexual routes of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that immunisation in early childhood is an important measure in prevention of the infection in this district.

Incidence of induced abortion determined by the randomised response technique.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of induced abortion using the randomised response technique, and to compare the results with estimates obtained by direct questioning. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Medical Officer of Health area, Homagama. SUBJECTS: Married women in the reproductive age group. RESULTS: The annual incidence of induced abortion for the three year period 1988 to 1990 was 15.7 per 1000 married women of the reproductive age group as estimated by the randomised response technique. Direct questioning led to 30.5% under-reporting of induced abortion. The application of the method failed only in 8.1% of the population studied. CONCLUSIONS: The randomised response technique is a feasible method to use in our population and provides the best estimates of induced abortion.

A case control study to assess the efficacy of measles vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the efficacy of measles vaccination in a given geographical area. DESIGN: Population based case control study. SETTING: Medical Officer of Health area, Kotte. SUBJECTS: All children born after January 1985 and registered by the midwives of the area. RESULTS: Vaccine efficacy was 88.9%, the 95% confidence limits being 65.21% to 96.5%. CONCLUSION: The method described is a suitable alternative to the more expensive serological estimates of vaccine efficacy.