Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Neonatal mortality in Sri Lanka: timing, causes and distribution(Informa Healthcare, 2009) Rajindrajith, S.; Mettananda, S.; Adihetti, D.; Goonawardana, R.; Devanarayana, N.M.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the timing, causes and distribution of neonatal deaths in Sri Lanka, to provide information for policy makers, to undertake appropriate measures to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. METHODS: All neonatal deaths, reported to the Registrar General's Office, Sri Lanka, from 1997 to 2001, were included in the analysis. RESULTS: During this 5-year period, 17,946 neonatal deaths have occurred, of them 90.5% have occurred during the first week of life. The leading causes were preterm deliveries (33.2%), infections (19.8%) and cardiac anomalies (17.4%). The neonatal mortality rates (NMR) were higher in districts with specialised neonatal care facilities and high concentration of estates. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 3600 neonates die in Sri Lanka annually, even though it has a lower NMR compared to rest of the South Asia. Neonatal deaths were higher in the major cities and in the estate sector. The majority of neonatal deaths were due to complications of preterm birth, neonatal sepsis and cardiac anomalies.Item The Use of commercially prepared 10 percent dextrose reduces the incidence of neonatal septicaemia(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 1997) Karunasekera, K.A.W.; Jayawardena, D.R.K.C.; Sunil-Chandra, N.P.Septicemia is an important cause of mortality morbidity among babies in neonatal care units. The Special Care Baby Unit, University Paediatric Unit of the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama experienced two out breaks of Klesbiella, between February and May 1996. Suspects the transmission of Klesbiella would have occurred as a result of contamination of intravenous fluid. Suggests use of commercially prepared dextrose as against making it for new born babies as a preventive measure. (letter to editor)Item Neonatal and post-neonatal mortality in the Galle district(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 1994) Fonseka, P.; Wijewardene, K.; de Silva, D.G.H.; Goonaratna, C.; Wijeyasiri, W.A.DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Galle district in Sri Lanka. SUBJECTS: 350 infant deaths of singleton births. MEASUREMENTS: Association between variables. RESULTS: Neonatal: post-neonatal death ratio was 3.2:1, and 62.3% (218) were early neonatal deaths. First day deaths comprised 28.6% (100); 67.8% (237) died at the Teaching Hospital. A high incidence (65.7%) of low birthweight (LBW) was noted. Mean birthweights of neonates and post-neonates were 1925 +/- 729 and 2520 +/- 620 gram respectively, and the difference between means was statistically significant (p < 0.001). LBW and related disorders were the major cause of death in 44% (154) of the total sample, and in 55.8% (149) of neonates. Infections were the commonest cause (55.8%) of death in post-neonates. Pediatric clinical assessment to differentiate small-for-dates (SFD) was not recorded in 90.3%. Statistically significant associations were found between the period of death (neonatal and post-neonatal) and the following variables: period of gestation (p < 0.001); birthweight (p < 0.001) and cause of death (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high incidence of neonatal deaths and a high proportion of early neonatal deaths. About one-third of deaths occurred on the first day of life. Incidence of LBW was high. The major cause of death was LBW and related disorders in the total sample and in neonates. Assessment of SFD was not carried out in the vast majority of infants.