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 sampleAssessment of the productivity loss due to leading maternal ill-health conditions: a follow-up study of a prospective pregnancy cohort in rural Sri Lanka
Gunarathna S, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi T, Prasanna I, Agampodi S. Assessment of the productivity loss due to leading maternal ill-health conditions: a follow-up study of a prospective pregnancy cohort in rural Sri Lanka. BMJ Open 2024, 14: e082798. PMID: 39477261, PMCID: PMC11529687, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082798.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIll-health conditionsRural Sri LankaPregnant womenPregnancy cohortFollow-up study of womenFollow-up studyProspective pregnancy cohortRajarata Pregnancy CohortSecondary outcome measuresMonthly household expenditureVaginal bleedingProductivity lossStudy of womenPrimary outcome measurePregnancy follow-upMedical careOutcome measuresHigher absenteeismNausea and vomitingPresenteeismHighest prevalenceAbsenteeismThird trimesterWomenRecommended prioritiesExploring fidelity of enactment in a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of ‘gatekeeper’ training for pesticide vendors in reducing self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka: protocol for a multimethod qualitative study
Kanapathy R, Agampodi T, Eddleston M, Konradsen F, Pearson M, Sanjula B, Malalasekara C, Naseer N, Agampodi S, Weerasinghe M. Exploring fidelity of enactment in a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of ‘gatekeeper’ training for pesticide vendors in reducing self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka: protocol for a multimethod qualitative study. BMJ Open 2024, 14: e082688. PMID: 38977371, PMCID: PMC11256041, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082688.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCluster randomised controlled trialRandomised controlled trialsRural Sri LankaPesticide self-poisoningControlled trialsStepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trialPesticide vendorsScientific peer-reviewed journalsMiddle-income countriesEthics and Research CommitteeSelf-poisoningMultimethod qualitative studyPeer-reviewed journalsFocus group discussionsIntervention fidelityIntervention districtsStratified purposive sampling methodReplicate interventionsQualitative research designSocioeconomic hardshipQualitative studyConference presentationsGroup discussionsRajarata UniversityParticipant diariesThe 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
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Antenatal Care Amid Free Health Care Provision: Evidence From a Large Pregnancy Cohort in Rural Sri Lanka
Gunarathna S, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi T, Prasanna I, Agampodi S. Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Antenatal Care Amid Free Health Care Provision: Evidence From a Large Pregnancy Cohort in Rural Sri Lanka. Global Health Science And Practice 2023, 11: e2200410. PMID: 37903576, PMCID: PMC10615247, DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMean OOP expenditureAntenatal careLarge pregnancy cohortPrivate health facilitiesPregnant womenHealth facilitiesOOP expenditureMaternal morbidityIndependent predictorsPrevious pregnancyPregnancy cohortHealth service utilizationInterviewer-administered questionnaireSignificant independent predictorsGovernment health facilitiesGovernment health servicesCare modeLaboratory investigationsHealth care usersSelf-administered questionnaireSri Lankan settingMonthly household incomeHealth care provisionANC visitsThird trimesterDifferences in the characteristics of people who purchase pesticides from shops for self‐harm versus those who use pesticides available in the domestic environment in Sri Lanka
Weerasinghe M, Jobe L, Konradsen F, Eddleston M, Pearson M, Jayamanne S, Hawton K, Gunnell D, Agampodi S. Differences in the characteristics of people who purchase pesticides from shops for self‐harm versus those who use pesticides available in the domestic environment in Sri Lanka. Tropical Medicine And International Health 2023, 28: 901-911. PMID: 37871998, DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13941.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHumansPesticidesPoisoningSelf-Injurious BehaviorSri LankaSuicidal IdeationSuicide, AttemptedConceptsHigh suicide intentSuicide attemptsSuicide intentSuicide deathsConfidence interval -3.2Pesticide poisoning casesLogistic regression analysisCI 1.5Fatal casesCharacteristics of peopleRural Sri LankaPoisoning casesDomestic casesRegression analysisPrevention implicationsSurvivorsHigher proportionDeathIncorporating early pregnancy mental health screening and management into routine maternal care: experience from the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo), Sri Lanka
Agampodi T, Amarasinghe G, Wickramasinghe A, Wickramasinghe N, Warnasekara J, Jayasinghe I, Hettiarachchi A, Nimesha D, Dilshani T, Senadheera S, Agampodi S. Incorporating early pregnancy mental health screening and management into routine maternal care: experience from the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo), Sri Lanka. BMJ Global Health 2023, 8: e012852. PMID: 37748792, PMCID: PMC10533714, DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEdinburgh Postnatal Depression ScaleMental health screeningMental health problemsPregnancy cohortSecond trimesterEarly pregnancyHealth screeningClinical InterviewHealth problemsPregnancy care programsRoutine maternal careTertiary care hospitalMental health service provisionPrimary healthcare levelHigher EPDS scoresPostnatal Depression ScaleWeeks of periodPregnancy-associated conditionsMental health gapPatient-centered careHealth service provisionHealth surveillance systemsCare hospitalMiddle-income countriesPregnant womenPerinatal mental health in Sri Lanka, current status, programmes, gaps, and recommendations.
Agampodi T, Agampodi S. Perinatal mental health in Sri Lanka, current status, programmes, gaps, and recommendations. Ceylon Medical Journal 2023, 68: 53-57. PMID: 37610969, DOI: 10.4038/cmj.v68isi 1.9792.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGlobal, regional, and country-level cost of leptospirosis due to loss of productivity in humans
Agampodi S, Gunarathna S, Lee J, Excler J. Global, regional, and country-level cost of leptospirosis due to loss of productivity in humans. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023, 17: e0011291. PMID: 37616329, PMCID: PMC10482283, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011291.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGross domestic productDisability-adjusted life yearsProductivity costsWorld Bank data repositoryLoss of productivityHealth expenditure dataEconomic burden estimatesHigher productivity costsDomestic productExpenditure dataInternational dollarsOverall economic burdenMonetary valueEconomic burdenAsia-Pacific regionIntangible costsLife yearsEconomic costsCost estimatesIncome countriesDiseases of povertyPartial estimatesCostProductivityCountriesComplete genome sequences of twelve strains of Leptospira interrogans isolated from humans in Sri Lanka
Senavirathna I, Jayasundara D, Warnasekara J, Matthias M, Vinetz J, Agampodi S. Complete genome sequences of twelve strains of Leptospira interrogans isolated from humans in Sri Lanka. Infection Genetics And Evolution 2023, 113: 105462. PMID: 37301334, DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105462.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChallenges of Continuation of Exclusive Breast Feeding up to 6 Months in a Setting with High Exclusive Breast Feeding Rates Reported. Experience from Eastern Province of Sri Lanka
Ranasinghe J, Madushika D, Abeysundara S, Agampodi S. Challenges of Continuation of Exclusive Breast Feeding up to 6 Months in a Setting with High Exclusive Breast Feeding Rates Reported. Experience from Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Maternal And Child Health Journal 2023, 27: 1996-2001. PMID: 37270754, DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03724-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExclusive breastfeedingNon-exclusive breastfeedingExclusive breast feeding ratesPublic Health Midwife areasDescriptive cross-sectional studyEarly cessationResultsThe mean ageBreast feeding ratesCross-sectional studyWorld Breastfeeding Trends InitiativeExclusive breastSingle centerMean ageMaternal ageChildren 1Risk factorsOdds ratioBreastfeedingMonthsMedical officersUnemployed mothersHealth areaSignificant predictorsBirth orderMothersImpact of COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilisation and household economy of pregnant and postpartum women: a cross-sectional study from rural Sri Lanka
Gunarathna S, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi T, Prasanna I, Agampodi S. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health service utilisation and household economy of pregnant and postpartum women: a cross-sectional study from rural Sri Lanka. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e070214. PMID: 37247958, PMCID: PMC10230333, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070214.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCurrent economic crisisHousehold economyFree public health servicesFinancial assistanceNon-parametric analysisEconomic crisisEconomic dataMonthly household incomeSri LankaHealth service utilisationHousehold incomeEconomic componentCOVID-19 pandemicEconomyPovertyIncomeService utilisationRural Sri LankaPostpartum womenCross-sectional studyPregnant womenAnuradhapura districtPublic health servicesLankaHealthcare utilisation‘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 ResearchConceptsEarly 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 delayEarly pregnancy metabolic syndrome and risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes: findings from Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) in Sri Lanka
Jayasinghe I, Agampodi T, Dissanayake A, Agampodi S. Early pregnancy metabolic syndrome and risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes: findings from Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) in Sri Lanka. BMC Pregnancy And Childbirth 2023, 23: 231. PMID: 37020187, PMCID: PMC10074348, DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05548-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGestational agePreterm birthPregnancy outcomesPregnant womenMetabolic syndromePregnancy cohortJoint Interim Statement criteriaFirst trimester pregnant womenMajor pregnancy outcomesSouth Asian pregnant womenAdverse pregnancy outcomesNeonatal birth weightGestational weight gainMedian gestational ageProspective cohort studyLive singleton birthsSignificant risk predictorAsian pregnant womenConclusionPregnant womenFPG thresholdMetS prevalenceCohort studyCumulative incidenceProspective cohortMetS definitionsDeterminants of birthweight in rural Sri Lanka; a cohort study
Banda P, Amarasinghe G, Agampodi S. Determinants of birthweight in rural Sri Lanka; a cohort study. BMC Pediatrics 2023, 23: 40. PMID: 36690991, PMCID: PMC9869565, DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03830-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMother-infant cohortPregnant womenCohort studyPreterm birthPsychosocial wellbeingThird trimester pregnant womenPerinatal health issuesProspective cohort studySocioeconomic statusPrimary care levelMaternal care servicesAntenatal care programsHusband's education levelSelf-completed questionnaireMiddle-income settingsEducation levelHierarchical logistic regressionPregnancy registrationHypertensive disordersMaternal BMISingleton pregnanciesThird trimesterBaby's sexChronic diabetesPerinatal health
2022
Rewriting the history of leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: An untold story since 1904
Nuwangi H, Weerakoon K, Agampodi T, Price H, Dikomitis L, Agampodi S. Rewriting the history of leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka: An untold story since 1904. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2022, 16: e0010918. PMID: 36480521, PMCID: PMC9731464, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010918.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial determinants of health pave the path to maternal deaths in rural Sri Lanka: reflections from social autopsies
Irangani L, Prasanna I, Gunarathne S, Shanthapriya S, Wickramasinghe N, Agampodi S, Agampodi T. Social determinants of health pave the path to maternal deaths in rural Sri Lanka: reflections from social autopsies. Reproductive Health 2022, 19: 221. PMID: 36471339, PMCID: PMC9724344, DOI: 10.1186/s12978-022-01527-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAutopsyFemaleHumansMaternal DeathSocial Determinants of HealthSocial FactorsSri LankaSuicideConceptsSocial determinantsSocial autopsiesComplex social issuesSri LankaSocial isolationRural Sri LankaSocial supportWorld Health Organization frameworkMaternal deathsPoor social supportGender inequityExtreme povertyDepth interviewsSocial issuesSocial causesThematic analysisSocial factorsPovertyDeath investigationOrganization frameworkDistrict ALevel occupationMost maternal deathsMiddle-income countriesCore determinantsThe geo-spatial perspective of biological, social and environmental determinants of early pregnancy anaemia in rural Sri Lanka: Need for context-specific approaches on prevention
Amarasinghe G, Agampodi T, Mendis V, Agampodi S. The geo-spatial perspective of biological, social and environmental determinants of early pregnancy anaemia in rural Sri Lanka: Need for context-specific approaches on prevention. Geospatial Health 2022, 17 PMID: 36468596, DOI: 10.4081/gh.2022.1110.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrevalence of anemiaEarly pregnancyPregnant womenRisk factorsFirst trimester pregnant womenHigher anemia prevalenceAntenatal care programsEnvironmental risk factorsHeterogeneous risk factorsMaternal anemiaPregnancy anemiaPregnancy cohortAnemia prevalenceDietary patternsHigh prevalenceAnemiaCare programRural Sri LankaPrevalenceSocioeconomic disparitiesPregnancyHealth DivisionEthnic distributionSignificant differencesAnuradhapura districtSARIMA and ARDL models for predicting leptospirosis in Anuradhapura district Sri Lanka
Warnasekara J, Agampodi S, Nr A. SARIMA and ARDL models for predicting leptospirosis in Anuradhapura district Sri Lanka. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0275447. PMID: 36227833, PMCID: PMC9562162, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275447.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFactors associated with early pregnancy anemia in rural Sri Lanka: Does being ‘under care’ iron out socioeconomic disparities?
Amarasinghe G, Agampodi T, Mendis V, Agampodi S. Factors associated with early pregnancy anemia in rural Sri Lanka: Does being ‘under care’ iron out socioeconomic disparities? PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0274642. PMID: 36201463, PMCID: PMC9536542, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274642.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPregnancy anemiaPregnant womenFirst trimester pregnant womenSocioeconomic disparitiesRisk of anemiaOdds of anemiaFull blood countHistory of anemiaContinuum of carePeriod of gestationFamily Health ProgramHierarchical logistic regression modelsSelf-completed questionnaireLogistic regression modelsHealth care coveragePublic health infrastructureMaternal anemiaAntenatal careCohort studyBreast feedingContraceptive injectionMiddle-income countriesAnemia preventionRegression modelsAnemia control