Journal/Magazine Articles

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This collection contains original research articles, review articles and case reports published in local and international peer reviewed journals by the staff members of the Faculty of Medicine

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Geographic Information Systems

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    Epidemiology of goiters in Sri Lanka with Geographic Information System Mapping: population-based cross-sectional study [Author Reply]
    (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, 2016) Fernando, R.
    Author Reply to comments by Mayilvaganan, S. Chekavar, A. Agarwal, A. on “Epidemiology of Goiters in Sri Lanka with Geographic Information System Mapping: Population-based Cross-sectional Study, Fernando, R. et. al.” appeared in World Journal of Endocrine Surgery.2015;7(3):55-59
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    Epidemiology of goitres in Sri Lanka with Geographic Information System Mapping: a population based cross sectional study
    (Jaypee Publishers, 2015) Fernando, R.; Chandrasinghe, P.C.; Nandasena, S.; Pathmeswaran, A.
    BACKGROUND: Sri Lanka is considered an endemic region for goiter. Early researchers have suggested the existence of a goiter belt based on rainfall pattern. Subsequent studies done in school children have challenged this theory. Current study is a community-based cross-sectional study done to assess the epidemiology of goiters. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping of the goiter prevalence is developed for the first time in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Study subjects were selected using a multi-staged cluster sampling with probability proportionate to size (PPS) method. Examination for the presence of goiters was done by two trained investigators and graded. ArcGIS 10 software was used for geostatistical analysis and developing a map by interpolating the data collected for the first time in Sri Lanka. RESULTS: A total of 5200 individuals (female-66%, median age-38 years; range 10-92 years) were assessed and 426 goiters were detected. The adjusted prevalence rate of goiters was 6.8%. Kriging interpolation method was used to develop the most appropriate epidemiological map clustering of high prevalence areas with scattered pockets of high prevalence was observed. Current map does not show a prevalence pattern in relation to the rainfall or elevation above sea level as proposed in the past. CONCLUSION: Goiter prevalence in Sri Lanka appears to be different from earlier proposed patterns. Use of GIS has contributed to develop a comprehensive epidemiological map of goiters demonstrating the absence of an endemic goiter belt in the wet zone as proposed earlier.
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    Use of routinely collected past surveillance data in identifying and mapping high-risk areas in a malaria endemic area of Sri Lanka
    (SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Project, 2002) Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Gunawardena, D.M.; Mahawithanage, S.T.C.
    Stratification of malaria endemic areas on eco-epidemiological criteria is an important step in planning and implementing malaria control programs. The uses of stratification of malaria endemic areas lead to better targeting of control measures such as residual insecticide spraying in countries where unstable malaria transmission occur. In this study, two methods that can be used for stratification of malaria endemic areas in Sri Lanka usingroutinely collected surveillance data over a period of 9 years are described. In the first method, the median Annual Parasite Incidence (API) was used as the criterion to classify an area as at risk for malaria while in the second method, the API and the Falciparum Rate (FR) were used as the criteria. Risk maps were produced by plotting the results of the analyses on maps generated by EPIMAP. The potential uses of risk maps are discussed