scholarly journals Experiences of vaccinating pregnant women against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Kaushalya Kasturiaratchi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women

scholarly journals The hidden burden of adolescent pregnancies in rural Sri Lanka; findings of the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thilini Chanchala Agampodi ◽  
Nuwan Darshana Wickramasinghe ◽  
Hemali Gayathri Jayakodi ◽  
Gayani Shashikala Amarasinghe ◽  
Janith Niwanthaka Warnasekara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Ultra Sound ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Pregnancy Cohort ◽  
Contraceptive Usage ◽  
Adolescent Pregnancies

Abstract Background Adolescent fertility is a main indicator of the Sustainable Developmental Goal (SGD) three. Although Sri Lanka is exemplary in maternal health, the utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health services (SRH) by adolescents is less documented. We describe the hidden burden, associated biological and psychosocial factors and utilization patterns of pre-conceptional services among pregnant adolescents in rural Sri Lanka. Methods The study is based on the baseline assessment of the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) in Anuradhapura. Pregnant women newly registered from July to September 2019 were recruited to the study. The period of gestation was confirmed during the second follow-up visit (around 25–28 weeks of gestation) using ultra sound scan data. A history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, blood investigations were conducted. Mental health status was assessed using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Results Baseline data on gestation was completed by 3,367 pregnant women. Of them, 254 (7.5%) were adolescent pregnancies. Among the primigravida mothers (n = 1037), 22.4% (n = 233) were adolescent pregnancies. Maternal and paternal low education level, being unmarried, and less time since marriage were statistically significant factors associated with adolescent pregnancies (p < 0.05). Contraceptive usage before pregnancy, utilization of pre-conceptional health care services, planning pregnancy and consuming folic acid was significantly low among adolescents (p < 0.001). They also had low body mass index (p < 0.001) and low hemoglobin levels (p = 0.03). Adolescent mothers were less happy of being pregnant (p = 0.006) and had significantly higher levels of anxiety (p = 0.009). Conclusion One fifth of women in their first pregnancy in this study population are adolescents. Nulli-parous adolescents exert poor social stability and compromised physical and mental health effects. The underutilization and/or unavailability of SRH services is clearly associated with adolescent pregnancies.

scholarly journals Evidence for Better Lives Study: a comparative birth-cohort study on child exposure to violence and other adversities in eight low- and middle-income countries - foundational research (study protocol)

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e034986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Valdebenito ◽  
Aja Murray ◽  
Claire Hughes ◽  
Adriana Băban ◽  
Asvini D Fernando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Exposure To Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Violence Against Children ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Foundational Research

IntroductionViolence against children is a health, human rights and social problem affecting approximately half of the world’s children. Its effects begin at prenatal stages with long-lasting impacts on later health and well-being. The Evidence for Better Lives Study (EBLS) aims to produce high-quality longitudinal data from cities in eight low- and middle-income countries—Ghana, Jamaica, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam—to support effective intervention to reduce violence against children. EBLS-Foundational Research (EBLS-FR) tests critical aspects of the planned EBLS, including participant recruitment and retention, data collection and analysis. Alongside epidemiological estimates of levels and predictors of exposure to violence and adversity during pregnancy, we plan to explore mechanisms that may link exposure to violence to mothers’ biological stress markers and subjective well-being.Methods and analysesEBLS-FR is a short longitudinal study with a sample of 1200 pregnant women. Data are collected during the last trimester of pregnancy and 2 to 6 months after birth. The questionnaire for participating women has been translated into nine languages. Measures obtained from mothers will include, among others, mental and physical health, attitudes to corporal punishment, adverse childhood experiences, prenatal intimate partner violence, substance use and social/community support. Hair and dry blood spot samples are collected from the pregnant women to measure stress markers. To explore research participation among fathers, EBLS-FR is recruiting 300 fathers in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.Ethics and disseminationThe study received ethical approvals at all recruiting sites and universities in the project. Results will be disseminated through journal publications, conferences and seminar presentations involving local communities, health services and other stakeholders. Findings from this work will help to adjust the subsequent stages of the EBLS project.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional study to assess etiology and associated factors for anaemia during first trimester of pregnancy in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka: a protocol

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Gayani Amarasinghe ◽  
Vasana Mendis ◽  
Thilini Agampodi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anaemia In Pregnancy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy, which can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, is a significant global health problem. Despite Sri Lanka’s strong public health system and commitment towards prevention, maternal anaemia remains a major problem in the country. While prevention is focused on iron deficiency, detailed etiological studies on this topic are scarce. Moreover, estimates of socio demographic and economic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy, which can provide important clues for anaemia control, are also lacking. This study aims to evaluate the hemoglobin distribution, spatial distribution, etiology and associated factors for anaemia in pregnant women in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of pregnant women in their first trimester registered for antenatal care from July to September 2019 in the Anuradhapura district. The minimal sample size was calculated to be 1866. Initial data collection has already been carried out in special field clinics for pregnant women between June to October 2019. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, a self-completed dietary questionnaire and an examination checklist were used for data collection. In addition, all participants underwent complete blood count testing. Further investigations are being conducted for predicting the etiology of anaemia based on a developed algorithm (such as high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] and peripheral blood film analysis). Discussion: Being the largest study on anaemia during pregnancy in a single geographical area in Sri Lanka, this study will provide important clues about geographical clustering of anaemia cases with similar etiology, associated factors and etiologies which would help to develop interventions to improve the health of pregnant women in the area. The possibility of selection bias is a potential limitation associated with the study design.

scholarly journals Psychological impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic among pregnant women in Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malitha Patabendige ◽  
Madhawa M. Gamage ◽  
Malika Weerasinghe ◽  
Asanka Jayawardane
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Psychological Impact

scholarly journals Susceptibility for varicella and factors associated with immunity among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka- a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishara P. Premathilake ◽  
Praveena Aluthbaduge ◽  
Channa P. Senanayake ◽  
Renuka Jayalatharachchi ◽  
Sirithilak Gamage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

Fetal effects of environmental exposure of pregnant women to organophosphorus compounds in a rural farming community in Sri Lanka

2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 489-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirma Samarawickrema ◽  
Arunasalam Pathmeswaran ◽  
Rajitha Wickremasinghe ◽  
Roshini Peiris-John ◽  
Madawa Karunaratna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Environmental Exposure ◽  
Organophosphorus Compounds ◽  
Farming Community

scholarly journals Household Food Expenditure Share During Pregnancy: Evidence From Rural Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 753-753
Author(s):  
Sajaan Gunarathne ◽  
Nuwan Wickramasinghe ◽  
Thilini Agampodi ◽  
Indika Prasanna ◽  
Suneth Agampodi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Education Expansion ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Expenditure Share ◽  
Food Expenditure ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Objectives Maternal nutritional requirements are expected to vary during pregnancy due to changing demands. Household food expenditure (HFE) reflects the affordability for these nutritional demands. We explored the relationship between household income and the HFE during pregnancy. Methods The study was a part of Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo), a prospective cohort conducted in Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka in 2019. Participants were recruited in the 1st trimester and followed up monthly for household expenditure data using a self-administered questionnaire. The associations between household income and HFE during all three trimesters were assessed with one-way ANOVA, repeated measure ANOVA, and correlation analysis. Results The sample sizes for each trimester were 1288,1049, and 168 pregnant women respectively. The mean (SD) age was 28.3 (5.6) years. The mean (SD) monthly household income and the expenditure were USD 261.29 (203.58) and USD 168.41 (108.68) respectively. The mean (SD) monthly HFE for each trimester were USD 55.18 (32.90), USD 55.07 (30.93), and USD 55.46 (31.67). There was a weak positive correlation (r = 0.022, p = 0.429) between household income and HFE in the 1st trimester and there were significant positive correlations in the 2nd (r = 0.275, p = 0.001) and 3rd trimesters (r = 0.403, p = 0.001). The household food expenditure share (HFES) out of total expenditure across three trimesters (35.0%, 33.3%, and 36.3%) were significantly different [F(2,134) = 3.82, p = 0.024]. The HFES in the income quintiles showed statistically significant difference only in the 2nd trimester [F(4,871) = 9.97, p = 0.001] and the HFHS from the lowest to the highest quintile were 36.1%, 31.7%, 32.1%, 30.0%, and 27.7% respectively. Conclusions On average, Sri Lankan rural pregnant women spend USD 55.24 as HFE and the HFES is 34.9%. The reported HFES value is consistent with the national household estimates in Sri Lanka. Even though the income is positively correlated with food expenditure, the HFES across income quintiles remain high during pregnancy, which reflects the perceived importance of addressing food requirements irrespective of the income. Funding Sources Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD), World Bank.

scholarly journals Can Homocysteine Be Used to Identify Vitamin B12 or Folate Deficiencies During Pregnancy in Low Resource Settings?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 707-707
Author(s):  
Gayani Amarasinghe ◽  
Imasha Jayasinghe ◽  
Ayesh Hettiarachchi ◽  
Iresha Koralegedara ◽  
Chamila Kappagoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Folate Deficiency ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Folate Level ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
B12 Deficiency

Abstract Objectives With universal iron supplementation during pregnancy, role of other nutritional causes of anemia such as Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies are increasingly coming to light. Testing vitamin B12 and folate levels is costly and inconvenient in low and middle income settings. Serum Homocysteine level is proposed as a cheaper and more feasible alternative to indicate vitamin B12/folate deficiency. We evaluated the role of Homocysteine as a predictor of B12/folate level among anaemic pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Methods We measured fasting serum total Homocysteine in a randomly selected sub sample of anaemic pregnant women (hemoglobin less than 11g/dl) from the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo), Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. They were referred to a special hospital clinic for B12 and folate assessment within 2 weeks of the initial assessment. Homocysteine levels &gt; 6.9 µmol/L in first and &gt; 9.6 µmol/L in second trimesters were defined as Hyperhomocysteinaemia. B12 levels below 203 pg/ml and folate levels below 4ng/ml were defined as deficiency. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated and Spearmen correlation was performed. Results Twenty two anaemic pregnant women in 6 to 18 weeks of gestation were included in the assessment. Median haemoglobin level of the selected sample was 10.2 g/dl (Range 8.2–10.9). Homocysteine (Range 4.43–17, median 8 µmol/L), B12 (Range 149.6–721, median 299.8 pg/ml) and folate (Range 5.5–40, median 16.6 ng/ml) showed skewed distribution. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was observed in 12/22 (50%) pregnant women and B12 deficiency was observed in five participants (22.7% CI 10.1–43.4). None had folate deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was present in 2/5 (40%) B12 deficient and 10/17 (58.8%) B12 normal participants. Sensitivity of Homocysteine to indicate B12 deficiency was 40% (95% CI 11.8 to 76.9) and specificity was 41.2% (21.6, 67). Predictive values of positive and negative tests were 16.7% and 70% respectively. Homocysteine levels did not correlate with B12 level (Spearmen r = -0.26, p = 0.24) or folate level (spearmen r = 0.04, p = 0.86). Conclusions Elevated Homocysteine levels cannot be used as a reliable indicator of B12 or Folate deficiency in anaemic pregnant women. Funding Sources Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Operation of the Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka.

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