Staff Publications

Influence of maternal and fetal factors on low birth weight at Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Influence of maternal and fetal factors on low birth weight at Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa Pragasan, G; Arulanandem, K; Gishanthan, S; Sivakaran, S; Karunakaran, K E Objective: To determine the mean birth weight and prevalence of low birth weight and to assess the influence of maternal (ethnicity, age and parity) and fetal factors (gender and singleton or multiple) on LBW. Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among all live births during June to August 2010 at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa. Data was obtained from birth registry in the Labour Ward. Results: 1715 babies were born during the study period. The mean birth weight of all newborn was 2917.43g and the prevalence of LBW was 15.41%.The prevalence of LBW was higher among Tamils than Muslims. Higher prevalence rate of LBW were below 25years and above 36years age group. Prevalence of LBW was significantly high in first & second parity and over 6thparity. Female babies had higher prevalence rate for LBW than male babies. Twin babies were more vulnerable to be born as LBW than Single birth. Conclusions: Both maternal and fetal factor considered for LBW in this study were found to be significantly associated with LBW. Reductions in teenage, elderly pregnancy and above 6th parity are essential for reducing LBW. Batticaloa Medical Journal

Perception of climate change and its effect on human health: A preliminary survey among the staff at Eastern University, Sri Lanka

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Perception of climate change and its effect on human health: A preliminary survey among the staff at Eastern University, Sri Lanka Karunakaran, Kavurirel Eliyas; Santharooban, Selvanayagam; Mohamed Marsook, Mohamed Faleel Climate change has been a global issue and Sri Lanka is no exception. The projected temperature rise rainfall change impact on crops yield and human health are at alarming levels along with natural disasters. Awareness on minimizing the adverse climate change to mitigate becomes mandatory. This preliminary study among the employees of Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL) aims at analyzing their perception with regard to the climate change, happening in their living vicinity. A number of fifty four staff volunteered to enroll in this study. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather data through statements with five point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square-goodness of test. Among the participants 43 (80%) has educational qualifications GCE Advanced level or beyond and 61% were holding the intermediate position. 61.1% responded that there has been high level of change in the climate in their living environment during last ten years with regard to the increase of heat and low rainfall . The result was statistically significant for chi-squared goodness- of-fit test (p<0.05). With regard to the crop production in recent years, the response was that 37% said no change in yield of agricultural crops while 57.4% said reduction in the yield (p<0.05). Majority, (85.1%) responded increase in the illnesses in recent years and illness such as Dengue, Bronchial asthma and common cold were the most common illnesses. The participants opinions regarding the steps taken to minimize/mitigate climate change were categorized into three topics such as Preservation of nature, Control of greenhouse gas emission and Making awareness among public. Majority of the participants prefer to know more on the climate change issues. The study thus concludes that the staff in the study are well aware on the ill effects of the climate change on the environment, crops yield and human health, measures to be taken to minimize them and prefer further training indicating that climate change education should need to be an agenda in university activities. Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Agriculture (ISA-2019) Eastern University, Sri Lanka

Young girls presenting with Torsion of Ovarian Cysts! Dilemma in conserving the reproductive organs

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Young girls presenting with Torsion of Ovarian Cysts! Dilemma in conserving the reproductive organs Karunakaran, K.E Adnexal torsion is a Gynaecological emergency which would lead to removal of the ovary with its Fallopian tube which is significant especially in young girls. Untwisting or de-torsion is found to be safe however late presentation and delay in definitive treatment is still becoming a dilemma despite adequate facilities. Two cases of adnexal torsion are being analyzed and the pathetic situation of a young child ended up in salpingo oophorectomy is presented. It is concluded that Delays in obtaining the definitive therapy should be minimized; if possible avoided, by instituting a good deed of clinical awareness by the care providers, the use of imaging and the prompt involvement of Gynaecological team in the Emergency Unit shall be made mandatory. Delays in the cases with adnexal torsion would be avoided by all means in order to conserve the reproductive organs for their normal functions. European journal of pharmaceutical and medical research

Carcinoma of Vagina in Women with Utero Vaginal Prolapse: Presentation of Two Cases and the Review of Literature

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Carcinoma of Vagina in Women with Utero Vaginal Prolapse: Presentation of Two Cases and the Review of Literature Karunakaran, K.E Primary vaginal cancer in women with utero vaginal prolapse is an uncommon entity. We report two women with longstanding third degree prolapse presented with ulcerated lesions. Both had vaginal hysterectomy and anterior colporrhaphy. Histology revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. One woman developed advanced malignancy in three months of surgery and the other is surviving after five years. The latter developed a lesion in the vagina recently and biopsy revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Review of the literature and personal experience suggest that vaginal hysterectomy and repair should be offered to women developing utero vaginal prolapse as when longstanding chances of developing cancer of vagina becomes significant. Women's Health Science Journal