Browsing by Author "Perera, B.P.P."

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A comparative descriptive study on adolescents presented to Ragama and Anuradhapura Teaching Hospitals for medico-legal examination with a history of 'sexual activity'
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya & Plan International, 2008) Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Perera, W.N.S.; Paranithran, P.; Perera, B.P.P.; Samarasekera, A.; Waidarathna, M.D.; Jayasena, A.S.
INTRODUCTION: Adolescents engaged in sexual activity are brought for medico-legal examination as they are minors. Though some have consented for sexual activity, it is not legally acceptable. The perpetrators include boyfriends, relatives, known persons and strangers. The 'boyfriend' group is unique as the consent is not obtained by illegal means. OBJECTIVE: To find out potential predisposing factors that contribute to 'consensual' or 'non consensual' sexual activity of adolescents and to find out how 'consensual' and 'non consensual' sexual activity affects sexual health of adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was done using records maintained at the offices of the Judicial Medical Officers of Ragarna and Anuradhapura. The data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: 202 and 154 victims examined between 2000 to 2006 at Ragama and Anuradhapura were analyzed. Male to female ratio was 1:10 in Ragama and 1:24 in Anuradhapura. The most vulnerable age group for sexual activity was 14-15 years. The majority of cases were from the low socio-economic strata. Vaginal intercourse was the most preferred sexual activity; the likelihood of an adolescent from Anuradhapura to have penetrative sex was 2.47 times more as compared to an adolescent from Ragama. Boyfriend was the assailant in 39% and 37% of cases in Ragama and Anuradhapura respectively. 63 % of victims from Ragama had eloped as compared to 19% from Anuradhapura. In both groups, nearly half of the cases had a relationship less than 6 months. An adolescent having sexual activity with a relative was 2.31 (95% CI 1.36-3.93) times greater in Anuradhapura as compared to Ragama. There were 18 and 16 pregnancies in Ragama and in Anuradapura, respectivly. 61 cases from Ragama had psychological symptoms and signs after the incident. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents are more susceptible to engage in sexual acts around 14 years. Consented sexual activity with a boy friend resulting in legal action is a significant social problem. The high incidence of sexual activity with relatives and known persons indicate the vulnerability of adolescents to engage in sexual activity in their own environments.
A comparative study of the causes of death given in two forensic institutions (Ragama and Edinburgh) and North Colombo Teaching Hospital: lessons we can learn from others
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2007) Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Perera, B.P.P.; Kitulwatte, I.D.G.
INTRODUCTION: Writing the cause of death (COD) according to the WHO format using the International Classification of Diseases has been the accepted practice in order to create comparable national and international statistics. Objective: To analyse whether the forensic doctors and clinicians in the North Colombo Teaching Hospital (NCTH) and the doctors in the Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Edinburgh adhered to WHO proforma and ICD 10 when formulating COD. And to suggest changes if a need was shown by this study. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHODS: CODs written during a six month period in 2003/2004 were obtained from postmortem reports and counterfoils of declaration of death forms from forensic doctors and clinicians respectively. CODs from the Certificates of COD written by forensic doctors in Edinburgh were obtained during a six months period in 2004/2005. RESULTS: 21% of Edinburgh records (n=252) were found to have one or more errors in the COD, whereas CODs written by forensic doctors in NCTH (n=441) had 45% of errors. The main difference between Edinburgh and NCTH was the use of linking words to imply WHO pro-forma by NCTH forensic doctors. Although the clinicians of NCTH use the format of la, Ib, Ic and 2, 79 %( n=432) of CODs had errors. CONCLUSIONS: High error rate of the Sri Lankan sample was due to many reasons. Medical certification of COD according to WHO pro-forma not being a statutory duty, and the COD given by junior doctors without supervision were major reasons.
Should the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) discuss the cause and manner of death with the family of the deceased?
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2014) Perera, B.P.P.
No Abstract Available