http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7416 2026-04-07T22:38:51Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/18919 Expanded New Born Screening (eNBS) Panel for Sri Lanka: stakeholder Opinion Arachchige, C.P.I.K.; Liyanage, D.; Egodage, U.K.; Dasanayake, D.L.W.; Gunarathna, D.A.; Amarasena, S.; Hettiarachchi, M. Objectives Newborn screening helps to identify inherited disorders at their asymptomatic stage and intervene before babies go into the symptomatic phase. A number of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMDs) are being screened at birth in developed countries.1 However, in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health has adopted screening for congenital hypothyroidism, critical congenital heart diseases, and congenital deafness as a policy in all newborns.2 Hence, there is a requirement to assess the need for expanded newborn screening in Sri Lanka. This requires epidemiological studies of the IMDs before investment to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the programme and reflections on the acceptance by beneficiaries. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward eNBS among expectant women. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinics of the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital, Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. A convenient sample was obtained from the antenatal clinics. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess basic socio-demographic details, knowledge and perception of eNBS. Results A total of 602 pregnant women took part in the study. The mean age is 29 years (SD±5.7). The majority (67%, n=403) were within 26–39 years. of them, 37.2% were primi gravida, and the majority (60%) were in the third trimester. More than 50% of the study participants knew about the heel prick test done at birth. However, only 34.8% and 28.0% were aware of the screening for congenital hypothyroidism and congenital heart disease, respectively. Most (93.6%) of mothers have not heard of the term IMDs, and only seven were aware of the term eNBS. Nevertheless, more than 80% of participants were willing to screen their babies at birth for underlying IMDs, even if it is available on payment, as the current programme was free of charge to the family. Similarly, the majority (96.2%, n=579) were willing to screen their babies for incurable diseases. Table 01 shows the knowledge and attitudes towards the expanded newborn screening programme. Conclusion Though most women were aware of the heel prick test done at birth, only a suboptimal proportion of them was aware of the disease/s checked using the test. In addition, there was poor knowledge about the IMDs and eNBS. However, there are positive attitudes towards eNBS. 2023-06-19T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/13691 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on First Aid Measures among Senior School Prefects in Galle Education Division, Sri Lanka Priyangika, K.G.G.; Hettiarachchi, M. First aid is needed in daily life at any situation. So every citizen shares a responsibility of having basic first aid knowledge and practices. First aider should be able to assess, provide care and direct to appropriate medical care. This study was planned to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices on first aid among senior school prefects in relation to the gender and previous exposure to first aid training. A descriptive cross sectional study was undertaken in two selected schools out of five girls’ schools and five boys’ schools in Galle educational division which are already having first aid trainings. All senior prefects in the two schools were eligible for the study. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire which contain both open ended and closed ended questions under four parts (Part 1-Socio-demographic data, Part 2- knowledge on first aid, part 3-attitudes on first aid, part 4 - practical scenarios on first aid). There were 66 senior prefects; 35 males and 31 females. All of them had heard the term of “First aid”. However, primary assessment in first aid (DRABC-Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation) was known to 17 (10 males and 7 females) subjects. Nearly 70% (25 males, 22 females) heard the term “cardiopulmonary resuscitation”. But of them only 12 males and 5 females were able to mention the ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths as 30:2. There was positive attitude towards first aid as the mean ± SD score was 24.23±2.4 out of 30 marks. Nearly 3/4 of them had the view of having first aid in their school curriculum and wants to improve their first aid knowledge and practices. Overall, there were significant difference in attitudes of females than males (p=0.04). Overall mean ±SD value that was scored for the practices section was 4.53±1.48. Only 9 individuals, each from both schools were able to obtain scores over 5 out of 10. There was a significant effect of previous first aid education on knowledge (χ2=13.08, p<0.05), attitudes (χ2=6.52, p<0.05) and practices (χ2=11.47, p<0.05) of senior prefects. Though there were positive attitudes towards learning first aid, the knowledge and practices on first aid was insufficient among senior prefects of Galle educational division. 2015-11-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/13690 Association between Thyroid Status and Lipid Levels among Pregnant Women in Jaffna District Yoganathan, T.; Arasaratnam, V.; Hettiarachchi, M.; Liyanage, C. Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with various adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes. Evidence shows that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) may exert extra-thyroidal effects and modify the serum lipid levels. The aim of the study was to assess the thyroid status and its association with serum lipid levels among pregnant women during the third trimester of gestation. Among 477 pregnant women, serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) were assayed and also total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were measured and analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS. Mean age, weight, height and gestational age of the study subjects were 28.95(±5.46) years, 63.02 (±11.56) kg, 154.39 (±6.00) cm and 39.33(±1.37) weeks respectively. Median values of the serum TSH and free T4 were 1.9 mIU/L and 12.6 pmol/L respectively. Also, serum TSH level ranged from 0.2 to 16.4 mIU/L whereas serum free T4 level ranged from 10.1 to 28.2 pmol/L. Further, inter-quartile range (IQR) of TSH and free T4 were 1.2 mIU/L and 2.7 pmol/L respectively. Among the study subjects, maternal serum TSH and serum free T4 were not significantly correlated with serum lipid level (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C). Serum TSH among maternal hypothyroid women were positively significantly correlated with serum TC (r=0.649, p=0.004) and LDL-C (r=0.745, p=0.001) and was not significantly correlated with TG (r=0.532, p=0.158) and HDL-C (r=0.327, p=0.186). Further, no correlation was obtained between serum free T4 and serum lipid levels among maternal hypothyroid women. These results indicated that among the study subjects, maternal serum TSH and serum free T4 were not significantly correlated with serum lipid level and significantly elevated serum lipid levels occurred in hypothyroid subjects. However, there is a need for gestational-age dependent reference ranges for TSH and free T4 as well as lipid profile among Jaffna population to adequately assess thyroidal effects. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/13688 Knowledge and Practices of Iodized Salt Consumption among Pregnant Women in Galle District Zoysa, G.E.D.; Hettiarachchi, M.; Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W.; Liyanage, K.D.C.E. Introduction: Sri Lanka introduced national salt iodization programme in 1995 to control iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) as iodized salt is the main source of iodine in the population. Although Sri Lanka achieved a satisfactory control of IDD in 2005, a recent study showed that iodine nutrition in pregnant women in Sri Lanka is far below the WHO recommendation. Lack of knowledge on iodized salt and improper practices of its usage may cause iodine deficiency during pregnancy. Methods: Study was conducted in Bope-Poddala health division of Galle District in the Southern province. Pregnant women (n=425) with gestational age =<12 weeks were studied. Ab interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Results:Forty percent of pregnant women in the sample had poor knowledge on iodized salt and the importance of iodine in the diet. Less than 50% of subjects were aware of bad consequences of maternal iodine deficiency on their babies and about 50% of them had improper practices on iodized salt usage. A poor correlation between the good knowledge and proper practices, were observed. Conclusion: Overall knowledge about iodine and iodized salt is not satisfactory and the health educational programmes expressing the importance of eliminating IDD at various levels is important to prevent iodine deficiency during pregnancy. 2015-07-16T00:00:00Z