IntroductionDomestic violence (DV) is a health, legal, economic, educational, and importantly a human rights issue. A fair question arises whether DV is given enough attention in the local context. It should be appreciated with the risk factors contributing to it in the society and effect it has on the society as a whole. ObjectivesIdentify the demographic factors, awareness and understanding on domestic violence. MethodsThe study was conducted as a randomized cohort study, using a self-administered questionnaire, and analysis was done using the SPSS 22.0.Results 98 participated. Majority were females. 88% were employed and 80% had completed GCE O/L. Sixty four percent stated they had faced some form of DV. 75.6%, 50%, 56% respectively agreed that sexual, verbal & psychological abuses are included in DV. Only 32% agreed that economical harm is included. 47.6% believed physical injuries are essential to file a law suit. 42.1% was not aware that the ex-spouse /partner can be a perpetrator and 37.5% stated only the spouse can be the perpetrator. 93.3% was aware that there are specific laws with regard to DV.Alcoholism was identified as a major cause for DV by 74% and they believed that the perpetrators are usually aggressive people (53.8%), and DV is an expected normal phenomenon in family (34.2%). Conclusion and recommendationSixty four percent had faced some form of DV, 68% was unaware that economical harm is included and 47.6% believed physical injuries are essential to file a law suit, indicating below average Knowledge of DV and related law. Thus further studies and awareness programmes are recommended.

Background: Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a multi-dimensional concept.The Genos EI Inventory is designed to measure the frequency with which an individual displays emotionally intelligent behaviours across seven dimensions. There is paucity of research on EI of individuals in the healthcare sector and lack of an appropriate instrument for the assessment of EI in Sri Lanka.

Background: Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an important attribute to possess in the practice of medicine, which requires skills such as the ability to adapt to clinical situations appropriately and have favourable interpersonal relations, which in turn may have an effect on the outcome of the patient. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the EI levels of first year medical undergraduates of a selected faculty of medicine in Sri Lanka and to determine whether there is a significant correlation between EI and gender, academic ability, number of siblings, selfmotivation to study medicine, perceived levels of family support, socialization and religiosity. Methods: The Genos Emotional Intelligence Assessment Concise Questionnaire, translated to Sinhala, was administered to a cohort of 194 first year medical students. This questionnaire included a supplementary section with personal details and questions on self-motivation to study medicine, perceived level of socialization, religiosity, family support and the Z score at the advance level examination. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0. Results and conclusions: The levels of EI of new entrant medical students admitted to a Faculty of Medicine in Sri Lanka was established using the validated Sinhala translation of the Genos Emotional Intelligence Assessment Concise Questionnaire. EI was positively co-related with self-motivation to study medicine, perceived level of socialization and religiosity. There was no significant difference in total EI scores between males and females. Perceived level of family support, number of siblings and academic ability did not correlate significantly with EI.

Background: Proper hand hygiene (HH) is of utmost importance in reducing the prevalence of healthcare associated infections. The World Health Organisation (WHO) HH strategy has been shown to be the most effective approach leading to practice improvements. An audit was conducted to assess the adherence to HH recommendations amongst the healthcare workers (HCW) at a medical unit in National Hospital Kandy (NHK) in July 2021. Methods: Audit standards were set to WHO five-moments HH. Four medical personnel were trained using WHO HH audit tool and asked to discreetly observe up to four HCW to assess HH over 20-minute sessions. HH compliance in total (TC), each moment and each HCW category were calculated in percentages and compared. HH compliance of 100% is the gold standard. Results: Total of 1134 opportunities were observed. TC was 49%. Moments specific compliance were, before touching a patient (moment1): 51%, before an aseptic procedure (moment2): 67.4%, after body fluid exposure risk (moment 3): 65.2%, after touching a patient (moment 4): 69.2% and after touching patient's surrounding (moment 5): 26.7%. HCW specific compliance of doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants (HCA), medical students, allied healthcare workers (AHC), and nursing students were 54%, 49.6%, 44.8%, 4.7%, 37.1% and 11.7% respectively. Doctors were significantly more likely to be compliant overall (in all moments), and specifically in moment 4 and moment 5 HH. Conclusions and recommendations: Overall HH compliance among HCW was inadequate at the observed study setting. Doctors demonstrated a better HH compliance than other healthcare categories. HH compliance was better in moment 4 and moment 2 than other moments. After reinforcement of HH practices, a re-audit is recommended to assess the improvement.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with a relapsing and remitting course and multi-organ involvement which can present with a wide range of neuropsychiatric manifestations. Acute disseminating encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a medical emergency which manifests with microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia and neurological abnormalities and is known to be a rare association of SLE. We report a case of a 14 year old female who presented with fever and altered consciousness, subsequently diagnosed to have SLE with thrombotic microangiopathy and acute demyelinating CNS lesions in an ADEM-distribution