Browsing by Author "Niwarthana, H.P.G."

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Determining the Violation of section 31(1) of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act: Regarding Alcohol Products
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Pallewaththa, P.W.P.W.K.; Niwarthana, H.P.G.; Jayasinghe, M.; Jayasinghe, C.; Abesinghe, C.; Nanayakkara, S.
Introduction: Sri Lanka was the fifth country in the South East Asian Region to sign the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC). National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act No. 27 of 2006 is one of cost effective measures that Sri Lanka apply to prevent issues regarding alcohol and tobacco use since 2006 under the FCTC. Objectives of the Act, is identifying the policies on protecting Public Health, eliminating of tobacco and alcohol related harm through the assessment and monitoring and make provision discouraging persons especially children from smoking or consuming alcohol. This study is considered only section 31 (1) of the NATA Act, which included ―A person not sell, offer for sale, or permit or promote the sale of any tobacco product or alcohol product to any person under twenty one years of age‖. Objective: To determine the violation of section 31(1) of the NATA Act, regards to Alcohol products. Methodology: Cross sectional study design was used for the study. Observation method was the data collection method. Data were collected in nine districts (n=45 registered alcohol selling points) in Sri Lanka. Multistage sampling method was used to select sample from registered alcohol selling points. An observation check list was applied as data collection tool and volunteers between the ages of 18 to 21 were assisted (as decoy) to purchase alcohol from selling points. Results: Results indicated that 93.3% registered alcohol selling points were violated the section 31(1) of the NATA Act. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is clear that implementation of section 31(1) of the NATA Act, was less successful. Implementation of this legal provision of the NATA Act, would be an enormous intervention to address alcohol initiation of adolescence in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is essential to take actions for implementing section 31(1) by responsible bodies and authorized officers immediately.
Explore Factors effecting elevate the Relapse Rate among Drug Users in Sri Lanka: Qualitative study
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Niwarthana, H.P.G.; Pallewaththa, P.W.P.W.K.; Nanayakkara, S.
Introduction: People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco reason of various determinants and drug abuse is one of the prominent problems that affect the country in many aspects including social, economic, education and health. According to the Sri Lankan context, National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB) engages in compilation and implementation of the national policy regarding drug abuse and related areas. In addition to the rehabilitation camps set up by the NDDCB, about 15 Non Government Organizations are also operating their own camps under the NDDCB for rehabilitating drug addicts. According to the NDDCB 45,000 Sri Lankans were drug addicts.NDDCB has facilities to treat only 1,000 of drug users annually, while the NGOs also treat 2,000 drug addicts annually. However, relapses are common in the case of drug addiction and 40 per cent of the people who are rehabilitated tend to use drugs again. Objectives:To explore factors effecting, increase the relapse rate among drug users in Sri Lanka. Methods:Study design was a qualitative design. Experts in treatment fieldfor drugs users were study subjects andthey were selected based on purposive sampling method. Six group discussions and twelve in-depth interviews were conducted to data collect. Based on the study objective, at the beginning personal factors were explored. After that, social factors were explored. Saturation method was the guiding method and data was analyzed through thematic analyzing method. Results: The study found that, drug users‘ escape from the treatment process effect of these underlines factors. Misleading situations of treatment institutions; different agendas of drug users while treatment process; dramatically descending of external motivation for quitting drugs; unsuccessful process of internal change in quitting drugs; poor change in attractive image; values and attachment to tobacco, alcohol and drugs; organizational gaps of treatment procedures; promoting family environment. Conclusion: Rehabilitation mechanism should be strengthened with more collaborative inputs and need a special rehabilitation mechanism which address above determinant factors.
Exploring factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among urban Communities in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Pallewaththa, P.W.K.; Prakash, T.G.S.L.; Niwarthana, H.P.G.; Kumara, S.G.P.; Abeykoon, P.; Abeynayaka, T.D.
Smokeless tobacco is tobacco or a tobacco product that is used by means other than smoking which implies use of unburned tobacco in the finished products. These products are intended to be used orally, sucked, chewed, gargled or applied to the gums or tooth, while fire tobacco mixtures are usually inhaled into the nostrils. Chewing tobacco is a risk in getting oral cancers and pre-cancers. Other health risks of chewing tobacco include gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and possible links to other cancers and cardiovascular disease. Informal observations reveal an increase in use of smokeless tobacco among youth and adolescence. Studies or health programs related to smokeless tobacco in Sri Lanka is scarce. This study attempted to explore factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among urban communities in Sri Lanka. Study design was qualitative in nature. Subjects / sample were selected based on snow ball sampling method. The study was conducted in Colombo district. Fourteen in-depth Interviews (n=14, including 8 males and 6 females) were conducted to collect data. Inquiries were made with regard to factors effecting initiation and continuing smokeless tobacco (Here, unseen determinant factors were especially taken into consideration). Saturation method was the guiding method of data collection and data were analyzed through framework analyzing method. The study found out the following factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among urban communities in Sri Lanka; Perceptions (‘Being with the gang’, as a youth style, Group action – Ganja Set, Pampara Set, Hanz Set), Expectancies (forget problems, keep the energy, and escape from the loneliness, to gain attraction, to gain pleasure, to keep wake up at night), distributors do it secretly acting as if they are engaged in other things, compare to other substitutions this is cheap, chemical effect cannot be seen by outsiders compared to other drugs, carelessness of parents, lack of knowledge about harmfulness of the product, peers – (not to be stigma, financial support), and certain qualities of the product (no bad smell). The study recommended an effective Health Promotion intervention to address these determinant factors.