Health and education provider collaboration to deliver adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Sri Lanka

The complex nature of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) determinants demands a multidisciplinary and intersectoral approach. Collaborative approaches are central to the delivery of quality health care and services but the focus is often health sector specific. Few research studies have explored the views and experiences of health workers and teachers and examined how ASRH services and information are provided by professionals across the education and health sector. Sri Lanka has made considerable progress towards addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), however, there are still gaps reflected in adolescent health, social indicators, and the delivery of services. Enhancing the collective efforts of teachers and health professionals may help to improve the quality and use of services and ASRH knowledge. This study aimed to identify the experiences, needs, knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary healthcare and education professionals and the strategies that best support them to deliver sexual and reproductive health information, education, counseling and clinical services to Sri Lankan adolescents. Qualitative and survey data were gathered from 65 nurses, midwives, public health inspectors, medical officers, teachers, counselors and principals in the district of Kalutara. Knowledge, attitudes and service gaps were identified in relation to contraception and policy guiding practice. Participants highlighted concerns with confidence, roles and training that were said to affect student access to appropriate health services. ASRH Collaborative practices were noted across the sectors and strategies suggested for improvement. Findings suggest that inter-professional educa-tion and training may provide opportunities to enhance collaboration supported and guided by appropriate policy, supervision and job descriptions (i.e. roles and responsibilities)

Task shifting and sharing in maternal and reproductive health in low-income countries: A narrative synthesis of current evidence

Reducing maternal mortality and providing universal access to reproductive health in resource poor settings has been severely constrained by a shortage of health workers required to deliver interventions. The aim of this article is to determine evidence to optimize health worker roles through task shifting/sharing to address Millennium Development Goal 5 and reduce maternal mortality and provide universal access to reproductive health. A narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature from 2000 to 2011 was undertaken with retrieved documents assessed using an inclusion/exclusion criterion and quality appraisal guided by critical assessment tools. Concepts were analysed thematically. The analysis identified a focus on clinical tasks (the delivery of obstetric surgery, anaesthesia and abortion) that were shifted to and/or shared with doctors, non-physician clinicians, nurses and midwives. Findings indicate that shifting and sharing these tasks may increase access to and availability of maternal and reproductive health (MRH) services without compromising performance or patient outcomes and may be cost effective. However, a number of issues and barriers were identified with health workers calling for improved in-service training, supervision, career progression and incentive packages to better support their practice. Collaborative approaches involving community members and health workers at all levels have the potential to deliver MRH interventions effectively if accompanied by ongoing investment in the health care system. © 2013 The Author. All rights reserved

Three dimensional photonic crystals

ABSTRACT The plane wave expansion method was implemented in modelling and simulating the band structures of three dimensional photonic crystals with FCC lattice formed from air spheres drilled in GaAs and diamond lattice formed by GaAs spheres drilled in air. Both these structures lead to a complete band gap not allowing EM waves with the frequency of the band gap to propagate through the crystal in any direction. Diamond lattice photonic crystal has a complete band gap for a wider range of filling fraction than FCC photonic crystal and also it has a wider band gap width

Original Article Bisphosphonate treatment for type III osteogenesis imperfecta in Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Objective: To ascertain clinical outcome following cyclical intravenous pamidronate therapy in a group of infants and young children with type III osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Design, setting and method: A prospective observational study was carried out on infants and young children referred to Ward 9 Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for assessment and treatment of O

Are consultants in Colombo, Sri Lanka satisfied with their job?

Introduction: Job stress and job satisfaction play a key role in the work environment of an organization. These influence the behaviour of a doc- tor towards his or her co-workers, administration and, most importantly towards the patients

Sri Lankan migrant worker deaths while employed abroad: circumstances and causes

Objective: Most reports of abuse and death of Sri Lankan migrant workers while employed aboard is anecdotal. This paper highlights the usefulness of a desk review in migrant workers to determine the causes of death and mortality risk for migrant workers. Methods: A desk review of was conducted using case files of migrant workers recording deaths during 2009. Data extraction was annonymised and confidential. The information obtained was analysed to present death rates, cause of death and standardized mortality ratios compared to national mortality rates. Results: Out of 333 deaths recorded by the SLBFE during the period of January to December 2009, 328 files with complete data was analysed. Out of these deaths 213 (65%) were of males and 115 (35%) were of females. The highest death rate was reported from Lebanon for males (5.2/ per 1000 departures) as well as females (2.9 per 1000 departures). Only 52% of files carried a death certificate and many were given causes of death not classifiable under the ICD-10. Myocardial infarction was the commonest cause of death (23%) followed by road traffic accidents, household and other accidents and injuries. When Standard Mortality Ratio (SMR) were calculated, females aged 25-29 years with a of 103.7, were at an increased risk of death relative women of the same age in Sri Lanka. Conclusions: Although we lack direct access to data in the country of death, information available locally with the SLBFE , if analysed systematically and scientifically, can be used to highlight pertinent issues for the migrant workers.