Introduction: The negative health effects of dental caries are cumulative, tracking from childhood to adulthood and most dental caries is now occurring in adults [1][2][3]. Oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontal diseases can occur during pregnancy [4][5][6][7][8][9]. This study was carried out in Medical officer of health (MOH) area, Ambalantota, Sri Lanka. 363 pregnant women in first visit attending antenatal clinic were recruited. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects who agreed to take part in the study. Ethical approval was taken from faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna. Prior to a dental examination, demographic information regarding age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status and residence were obtained from the participants using interviewer administered questionnaire. Findings of dental examination were entered examination table separately. The mean DMFT among antenatal women was 3.8 ± 5.17, with 3.27 (± 2.31) decayed teeth, 1.85 (± 1.87) missing teeth, and 1.4 (± 1.4) filled teeth. Results were shown in table 3 with binary logistic analysis of DMFT for the overall sample of 363 pregnant women. The final model explained 6.3% to 8.4% of DMFT variation (dependant variable) with variation of independent variables (educational level up to Ordinary level, Sinhla over non-sinhala, income over 30,000, knowledge on dental services free by government and ever taken treatment) and the p-value for Hosmer-Lemeshow test of goodness of fit was 0.957, which indicated an acceptable fit of the model. In the final model significant predictors were Sinhala: Non-sinhala (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 5.67 [1.25-25.99], p=0.026) and "ever taken treatment for dental diseases"( Yes vs No: adjusted OR [95% CI]: 0.432 [0.274-0.680], p<0.0001). In this study, pregnant women in Ambalantota MOH area were found to have a significantly higher DMFT value among Sinhala women over Non-Sinhala women and similarly significantly lower DMFT value among pregnant women who sought treatment for their dental diseases against women who did not.
Identification of diastolic dysfunction among patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus alarms health care providers to prevent progression of heart failures while at the early stage. Little evidence exists by assessing and determining the cardiac diastolic dysfunction among type 2 diabetic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and clinically asymptomatic with no overt symptoms or signs of heart failure can help clinicians to recommend early treatments. Between the periods of 2019–2020, total number 59 patients with T2DM attending Diabetic clinics, National (Tertiary) hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka were assigned. Patients related factors and disease related factors were assessed using interviewer-administered questionnaire with blood investigations of FBS, Lipid profile and Hb levels. Logistic regression model used to assess relationships following the goodness-of-fit with Hosmer–Lemeshow (p = 0.9) and Nagelkerke R (0.22). Among 59 participants, 23.7% and 10.2% of subjects were found to be having grade 1 and grade 2 diastolic dysfunction respectively. Univariate analysis with chi-square reported no particular significance association of diastolic dysfunction over patient’s factors or selected factors of disease status. The final risk-prediction-model was used to estimate the probabilities of diastolic dysfunction with selected factors of DM was not found any significance (p < 0.05). Benefits observed in this study were to recommend assessing diastolic dysfunction at patient’s early stages of DM, irrespective of their disease status and patient’s factors.
Long queue and long waiting time for taking appointment, consulting a doctor and to get drugs is a critical problem to patients with Non-communicable diseases who are following in government health sector. Many primary healthcare services in Sri Lanka is delivered through vertical systems, where services for routine issuing appointment, consultation and issuing drugs are co-located but use separate physical space, staff and medical records. Aim of the research leads to integration of the systems deteriorates the waiting time and reduces the worse health outcomes in the long run. A care model was developed integration of consultation and issuing drugs, with permanent issuing of routine appointment in rural healthcare settings, Elpitiya. Data on waiting time of patients during two seven-day periods before and six months after the integration were collected using a time and motion study. Statistical tests were conducted to investigate whether the two observation periods differed in operational details such as staffing, patient arrival rates, mix of patients etc. Previous level of attendance was analysed by their clinic records (before intervention). Multiple linear and logistic regression repeated measures analyses were used to assess the program's effects. Comparison of raw data showed that waiting times decreased by 7.2 hours to 3hours, after integration (p<0.01). Clinic patients attendance was remarkably improved with regular clinic service after implementing appoint system from 35%-60% to 85%-90%. The rate of clinic attendance was increased dramatically over the period from 6 months. Waiting time for attending clinic was declined and waiting in lines were avoided. Moreover, the intervention did improve clinic utilization and satisfaction. Integrating health services have the potential of reducing waiting times due to more efficient use of resources. Encouraging patients by new model is challenging and does appear to provide significant realistic benefits at rural, resource poor health settings beyond those provided by basic clinic services.
In a disaster pregnant women and children are at a higher risk than other population, because they have special physical and psychosocial needs which require continued care despite the community circumstances. Therefore, it is essential a presence of an experienced health worker, who is more aware of disaster planning and preparedness to serve the needs of the pregnant women and children. Objectives are to assess the knowledge, preparedness and associated factors of Public Health Midwives in 3 mostly affected MOH areas on maternal and child care during disasters. Methods: Between July to September 2016, all PHM in 3 MOH areas, (total of 78) were selected for the study to collect data by a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were surveyed of their personal information, information about their field, history of disasters occurred in their field, knowledge on maternal and child care in disasters, level of disaster preparedness and trainings received on disaster management. The knowledge and preparedness were analyzed in relation to the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the participants. Results: The study results revealed that only 47.3% of PHMs were having a good knowledge on maternal and child care during disasters and especially they need to improve the knowledge in natal care, new-born care and infant care. Relatively they had a good knowledge on antenatal care and child care. There was no significant association between the age, educational level, field experience, MOH area and facing of disasters in the past with the knowledge, which reflects that every one should have a good knowledge in disasters in spite of any circumstances. The preparedness for disasters among the study population was 33.8% and most of them didn't think of the possible disasters that can happen in their fields and didn't have a response plan. The level of preparedness was not significantly associated with other factors like age, educational level, field experience, MOH area or previous exposure to disasters. 58.1% of the participants were not learned about disaster management in any instance in their service period and 94.6% not participated in any training programme. Conclusion & Recommendation: The PHM in 3 MOH areas should be promoted to get further educational qualifications to upgrade their knowledge. They should be encouraged to gain more knowledge and preparedness on disasters by giving service appreciation and awards for that field.
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