2024
Investigating disease awareness of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka to inform public health services: a cross-sectional study
Gunasekara S, Agampodi T, Weerasinghe M, Fernando M, Price H, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi S. Investigating disease awareness of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka to inform public health services: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2024, 14: e088714. PMID: 39581720, PMCID: PMC11590865, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088714.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSecondary outcome measuresAnuradhapura districtOutcome measuresProbability sample of householdsTreatment centresMultistage cluster samplingPublic health interventionsPublic health servicesCross-sectional studyData collection periodExpert consensus approachPrimary disease characteristicsRural Sri LankaPrimary outcome measureSample of householdsHealth interventionsLow disease awarenessHealth servicesPerceived susceptibilityEvidence-basedCommunity awarenessDisease awarenessDivisional Secretariat areaCluster samplingProbability sampleThe psychosocial burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka: A multi-method qualitative study.
Nuwangi H, Dikomitis L, Weerakoon K, Agampodi S, Agampodi T. The psychosocial burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka: A multi-method qualitative study. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2024, 18: e0011909. PMID: 38236911, PMCID: PMC10826957, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011909.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHumansLeishmaniasis, CutaneousPatient ComplianceQualitative ResearchRural PopulationSri LankaConceptsPsychosocial burdenRural Sri LankaPeople-centred careMulti-method qualitative studyPerceived disease severityHigh psychosocial burdenTreatment-related burdenImprove patient outcomesHealthcare seekingStigmatised diseaseIllness experienceIllness-experienceHealthcare modelRelated burdenBody image concernsBurden of CLThematic analysisQualitative studyHospital clinicMultimethod qualitative approachResource-poor regionsDisease burdenNegative societal reactionsPatient outcomesCommunity engagement
2023
Stigma associated with cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review
Nuwangi H, Agampodi T, Price H, Shepherd T, Weerakoon K, Agampodi S. Stigma associated with cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023, 17: e0011818. PMID: 38153950, PMCID: PMC10781107, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011818.Peer-Reviewed Original Research‘We do not rush to the hospital for ordinary wounds (suḷu tuvāla)’: A qualitative study on the early clinical manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis and associated health behaviours in rural Sri Lanka
Gunasekara S, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi S, Fernando M, Weerakoon K, Liyanage C, Dikomitis L, Agampodi T. ‘We do not rush to the hospital for ordinary wounds (suḷu tuvāla)’: A qualitative study on the early clinical manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis and associated health behaviours in rural Sri Lanka. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023, 17: e0010939. PMID: 37172051, PMCID: PMC10208456, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010939.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsFemaleHospitalsHumansLeishmaniasis, CutaneousMalePatient Acceptance of Health CareRural PopulationSri LankaConceptsEarly clinical manifestationsClinical manifestationsCutaneous leishmaniasisHealth behaviorsRural Sri LankaAssociated health behaviorsHealthcare-seeking behaviorSelf-management actionsEarly skinTreatment periodFirst visitSkin lesionsQualitative studyHealth interventionsWorm infestationAnt bitesLeishmaniasisTropical diseasesNarrative thematic approachHealthcare facilitiesManifestationsRural settingsSymptomsAnuradhapura districtSubstantial delayThe stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL): A protocol for a systematic review
Nuwangi H, Agampodi T, Price H, Shepherd T, Weerakoon K, Agampodi S. The stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL): A protocol for a systematic review. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0285663. PMID: 37167276, PMCID: PMC10174477, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285663.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMucocutaneous leishmaniasisCutaneous leishmaniasisSystematic reviewVisceral leishmaniasisMeta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statementCochrane Library databasesRisk of biasRegistered Systematic ReviewMain clinical typesGlobal Index MedicusPreferred Reporting ItemsWeb of ScienceClinical typesStrategies/interventionsDifferent study typesLibrary databasesElectronic searchReporting ItemsNarrative synthesisStudy typeIndex MedicusSkin pathologyLeishmaniasisTropical diseasesFull articles
2022
Community Engagement in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka: A Decolonial Approach for Global Health
Polidano K, Parton L, Agampodi SB, Agampodi TC, Haileselassie BH, Lalani JMG, Mota C, Price HP, Rodrigues S, Tafere GR, Trad LAB, Zerihun Z, Dikomitis L. Community Engagement in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka: A Decolonial Approach for Global Health. Frontiers In Public Health 2022, 10: 823844. PMID: 35242734, PMCID: PMC8885625, DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.823844.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBrazilCOVID-19EthiopiaGlobal HealthHumansLeishmaniasis, CutaneousPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Sri LankaConceptsCommunity engagementCommunity advisory groupDecolonial approachCutaneous leishmaniasisCommunity membersSri LankaLocal sociocultural contextRobust community engagementCommunity engagement activitiesQualitative research methodsParasitic skin diseasePublic health problemGlobal health researchAdvisory GroupAnthropological approachCommunity representationMental health outcomesEveryday realityHealth Research programmeSociocultural contextEngagement activitiesThematic analysisSkin diseasesHealth outcomesHealth problems
2020
Is leishmaniasis adequately notified in Sri Lanka? A survey among doctors from an endemic district, Sri Lanka
Hewawasam C, Weerakoon HS, Thilakan V, Lelwala T, Prasanka K, Rathnayaka AS, Gamage S, Agampodi S. Is leishmaniasis adequately notified in Sri Lanka? A survey among doctors from an endemic district, Sri Lanka. BMC Public Health 2020, 20: 913. PMID: 32532244, PMCID: PMC7290071, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09066-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedical officersMethodsA cross-sectional studyFirst clinical suspicionHigh disease burdenCross-sectional studyHigh case loadSelf-administered questionnaireHealth Care InstituteAnuradhapura districtCurrent notification systemClinical suspicionResultsOne hundredDisease burdenCare instituteCausative organismEarly diagnosisEndemic districtsCutaneous leishmaniasisParasitic infectionsLeishmaniasisNotifiable diseaseCase loadLeishmania donovaniDiseaseSupportive staff
2014
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka: a missing endemic district in the leishmaniasis surveillance system
Semage SN, Pathirana KP, Agampodi SB. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka: a missing endemic district in the leishmaniasis surveillance system. International Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2014, 25: 53-55. PMID: 24858902, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsGeography, MedicalHumansIncidenceLeishmaniaLeishmaniasis, CutaneousPopulation SurveillanceSri LankaConceptsCutaneous leishmaniasisArmed Forces personnelCumulative annual incidencePublic health surveillance systemsNational surveillance systemSurveillance systemPublic health threatHealth surveillance systemsTime of investigationSri Lanka ArmyAnnual incidenceEndemic districtsEpidemic proportionsReported casesArmy populationLeishmaniasisHealth threatIncidenceDisease surveillanceControl activitiesUrgent attentionSri LankaLesionsMullaitivu
2013
Emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka 2008–2011
Sandanayaka R, Kahawita I, Gamage A, Siribaddana S, Agampodi S. Emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka 2008–2011. Tropical Medicine And International Health 2013, 19: 140-145. PMID: 24438012, DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12232.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultFaceFemaleHumansIncidenceLeishmaniaLeishmaniasis, CutaneousMaleMiddle AgedSeasonsSex FactorsSri LankaUpper ExtremityYoung AdultConceptsCutaneous leishmaniasisAnnual incidenceMajority of patientsMean annual incidencePolonnaruwa districtDermatology unitClinical detailsGeneral HospitalStudy populationEpidemiology UnitUpper limbLeishmaniasis surveillanceCase incidenceLeishmaniasisPatientsStudy periodIncidenceCommon typeCase distributionLesionsMore malesHospitalPopulationPolonnaruwaSri Lanka