Conference Papers

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This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine

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    Household expenditure on tobacco consumption in Monaragala district
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2016) Perera, K.M.N.; Guruge, G.N.D.; Jayawardana, P.L.
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The link between tobacco and poverty is well established. Monaragala is the poorest rural district in the southern parts of Sri Lanka and second poorest in the country. The Central Bank statistics state that 2.7% of household expenditure is spent on “liquor, drugs and tobacco”. This figure is much lower than the global estimates and findings in other countries. This study aimed to describe the expenditure on tobacco and its impact on food and education related expenditures at household level in Monaragala District. METHOD: A cross-sectional study design was used. A representative sample of 1160 households was recruited using a four-stage cluster sampling method. A simple random sampling method was used to select an individual aged between 15 to 59 years from the selected household. Data were obtained by a pre-tested, validated questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers. Recall method was used to obtain expenditure related data. RESULTS: Median monthly household income was LKR 20,000 (IQR=LKR 12,000-30,000). The median monthly expenditure on tobacco was LKR 1000 (IQR: 400-2000) with the highest spending tertile reporting a median of LKR 2700 (IQR 2000-3600). The proportionate expenditure from the monthly income ranged from 0.0% to 50% with a median of 5.0% (IQR=2.0-10.0). The poorest reported the highest mean proportionate expenditure (9.8%, SD=10) from the household income. Medium and high spenders spent significantly less on children’s education compared to others. CONCLUSION: The household expenditure on tobacco products in rural poor communities in Sri Lanka is probably greater than the current estimates.
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    Risk factors for delivering a small for gestational age infant
    (Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2004) Abeysena, C.; Jayawardana, P.L.; Seneviratne, S.R.A.
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for delivering a small for gestatJonal age (SGA) infant. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study was carried out at two MOH areas in the Gampaha district, during the period of May 2001 to April 2002. Eight hundred and twenty pregnant mothers were recruited at £16 weeks of gestation and followed up until partus. Demographic, socloeconomic and obstetric data of the mothers were gathered at the time of recruitment. Trimester specific exposure statuses along with potential confounding factors were gathered on average at the 12 , 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Physical activities were assessed by asking the duration of specific postures adopted per day by the mothers during each trimester at home for house wives and both at home and during working hours for those who were engaged in paid employment. Shift work and work related physical and chemical exposures were also assessed. Psychosocial stress was ascertained using the Modified Life Events Inventory and the General Health QuestionnaireJJO. Ultrasound scan was performed to determine the gestationai age based on foetal biparietal diameter. SGA was assessed using customized growth centile charts developed by Gardosi et al. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis (sample size=504) were applied and the results are expressed in odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) with the probability levels (P). RESULTS: When cut off for SGA was considered as <10 centile of the customized birth weight centiles, the proportion of SGA was 16.4%. Although the univariate analysis revealed that sleeping for < 8 hours during 2" or 3 or both trimesters (OR=1.645 95% CI= 1.00-2.67; P=0.04) and work related exposures during 2 or 3 or both trimesters (OR=2.42,95% GUI.19-4.93; P=0.01) were significantly associated with SGA, none of these factors became significant on multivariate logistic regression analysis. When the cut off was considered as <5 centile of the customised birth weight centiles, the proportion of SGA was 8.8%. Sleeping <8 hours during 2 or 3 or both trimesters (OR=2.34,95% CI=1.18-4.61; P=0.01), work related exposures during 2" or 3' or both trimesters (OR=2.91, 95% CM.27-6.65; P=0.01) and alcohol consumption during the 3' trimester {OR=4.33, 95% CI=1.11-16.94; P=0.03) had statistically significant association with SGA in the univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression also revealed that sleeping for <8 hours during 2" or 3 or both trimesters (OR=2.14, 95% 01=1.06-4.32; P=0.03), and walking for < 2.5 hours per day (OR=2.40> 95% CM.05-5-51; P=0.04) and alcohol consumption during the 3' trimester (OR=8.01,95% CM.31-49.02; P=0.02) were risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for being SGA when SGA is defined as <5 centile of the customised birth weight centiles are, sleeping for <8 hours during 2 or 3 or both trimesters, walking < 2.5 hours per day and alcohol consumption during 3 trimester. It is recommended that the importance of sleeping >8 hours and walking > 2.5 hours per day and avoidance of alcohol be emphasised to pregnant mothers.