Browsing by Author "Wakkumbura, H. P."

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    The impact of the current crisis on patient attendance at Gynecology Clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital – Yakkala
    (Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Tharangani, W. A. S.; Wakkumbura, H. P.
    The sudden inflation of the country followed by the Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost all areas of the human life and it has been a burden for women seeking medical assistance for various diseases. The prevalence of gynecological disorders including subfertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroid and menstrual problems like endometriosis, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea have been increased in the present society and which is reflected by increased attendance for the Gynecology clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital - Yakkala (GWATH). The distinctive changes of the dietary and lifestyle patterns along with environmental factors could be considered as primary elements triggering these ailments. Apart from those causes, current economic and pandemic situation in the country have negatively affected not only for physical but also for psychological health of women. The main objective of this study was to identify the impact of economic crisis followed by Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence of the gynecological disorders. Data was collected from the patients’ record book of Gynecology clinic, GWATH from January 2018 to July 2022. Comparing the patients’ attendance on each diagnosis which was taken as a percentage with respect to the total patient count in 2018, prevalence was decided and depending on that the impact of the crisis situation was inquired. Mean values (MV) of the patient count in each year was considered to compare the total attendance of the patients. The calculated MV of the total patient count in each year from January 2018 to July 2022 (2018MV-177.5, 2019MV-152.1, 2020MV-61.5, 2021MV-40.7 and 2022MV until July-58.0) showed that the attendance of patients to the clinic has clearly been decreased compared with pre-crisis in 2018. Furthermore, it was an obvious finding that the prevalence of disease conditions like endometriosis (2018-15.8% and 2020-6.1%) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (2018-21.3% and 2020-9.4%) has been decreased. On the other hand, the prevalence of female subfertility (2018-5.7% and 2020-25.2%), irregular menstruation (2018-6.7% and 2020-14.7%) and male subfertility (2018-4.9% and 2020-7.0%) has noticeably increased even though the total attendance of the patients has been decreased. By the increased prevalence of the patient count for subfertility and irregular menstruation, it can be assumed that the crisis situation has impacted on the psychological health of the patients where increased stress can be considered as a major factor for increased incidence of those conditions. In addition, it is also concluded that insufficiency and higher cost of the western medicines during the crisis situation, people have opted for seeking Ayurveda medicines.
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    The impact of the economic crisis on patient attendance at Pediatric Clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital – Yakkala
    (Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Tharangani, W. A. S.; Wakkumbura, H. P.
    Sudden economic crisis followed by Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost all population while increasing the cost of basic and secondary needs. The Pediatric clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital - Yakkala (GWATH) could be identified as a leading clinic amongst Ayurveda and Western Pediatric clinics which serves in the management of a considerable population of pediatric diseases. Main objective of this study was to observe the prevalence of pediatric diseases during crisis situation based on patient attendance at pediatric clinic of GWATH. The secondary objectives were to identify which pediatric disease conditions have become more prominent during the crisis situation in Sri Lanka. Data was collected from the patients’ record book of Pediatric clinic, GWATH from January 2018 to July 2022. Percentages of patients’ attendance on each diagnosis with respect to the total patient count with respect to 2018 were compared to determine the prevalence of each disease. Based on the mean values (MV) of the patient count in each year, the total patient attendance was compared. The calculated MV of the total patient count in each year from 2018 to July 2022 (2018MV-26.7, 2019MV-28.8, 2020MV-12.0, 2021MV-7.7 and 2022MV-15.3) showed that the attendance of patients to the clinic has been decreased after the crisis situation compared with pre-crisis in 2018. Considering the total number of patients attended the clinic, it was identified that the prevalence of Ratha roga, Skin disease, Developmental delay and Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been increased compared to pre-crisis situation even though the total attendance has been reduced. In 2018, the prevalence of above-mentioned diseases was 4.6%, 3.3%, 6.2% and 0.0% respectively. And in the year 2022 by month of July it has been 7.6%, 7.3%, 11.6% and 5.8% respectively. ITP has become the most obvious disease condition from all the pediatric disease diagnosis. More than 80% of disease diagnosis is based on non-communicable diseases (NCD). With the increase of the patient count in 2022 compared to 2020 and 2021 it is interpreted that nevertheless the economic crisis or the pandemic, people are willing to attend the clinic for their major health conditions in seeking Ayurveda treatments. ITP has become a novel major pediatric complication compared with 2018 which makes it obvious that people are seeking Ayurveda treatments for NCDs rather than CDs.