Browsing by Author "Hapugoda, C."

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    Prevalence and associated factors of visually impaired cataract of the better eye among adults aged 40 years and above in Mahara Medical Officer of Health Area, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study.
    (College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka., 2019) Hapugoda, C.; Abeysena, C.
    INTRODUCTION: Cataract is the main cause of visual impairment in the world, accounting for 51% of global blindness. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of visually impaired cataract of the better eye among adults aged 40 years and above in Mahara Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Area in Sri Lanka. METHODS: This was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in an MOH area during the period August-October 2009. The study population consisted of 602 adults aged 40 years and above selected using cluster sampling technique. Study instruments were interviewer-administered questionnaire and a record sheet. The presence of lens opacities following ophthalmoscope examination with visual acuity less than 6/18 in the better eye was considered as cataract. Multivariate logistic regression was applied for assessment of factors associated with cataract. Results were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of visually impaired cataract of the better eye was 14.6% (95% CI=11.78, 17.42). It was 35.1% (95% CI=28.3, 41.86) among the age group of 60 years and above and 15% (95% CI=11.28, 18.72) among females and 14.4% (95% CI=9.77, 18.43) among males. After controlling confounding factors, age 60 years and above (aOR=4.72; 95% CI=3.18, 7.01), lower level of education (aOR=2.01; 95% CI=1.39, 2.89) and duration of diabetes mellitus of more than six years (aOR=2.13; 95% CI=1.11, 4.07) were found to be the associated factors. CONCLUSIONS: The burden due to prevalence of visually impaired cataract in the better eye was considered serious as it will affect the quality of life. Being elderly, lower education and longer duration of diabetes mellitus were associated with visually impaired cataract.
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    Prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances usage and associated factors among patients attending mental health clinics conducted by a group of hospitals in Sri Lanka
    (ClinMed International Library, 2018) Abeysena, C.; Hapugoda, C.
    BACKGROUND: Consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotics affects the quality of life among mental health patients. The objective of this study was to describe prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances usage and associated factors among patients attending mental health clinics. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in mental health clinics from July to November in 2013. All mental health patients who had registered and followed up ≥ 1 year were the study population. Using systematic sampling, 404 patients were recruited. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Results were expressed as prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI). Chi-squared test was applied for assessing the associations. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic were 53.7%, (95% CI = 48.8-58.6), 24.3%, (95% CI = 20.1-28.5) and 5.9%, (95% CI = 3.6-8.2) respectively. Current usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic were 42.6% (95% CI = 38.2-47), 15.3% (95% CI= 11.8-18.8) and 2.7% (95% CI = 1.1-4.3) respectively. Statistically significant relationships were found between male patients and current usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit narcotic substances. Patients with monthly income > LKR 5000 had a significant relationship with current usage of alcohol and tobacco. Current alcohol usage of patients was significantly associated with the alcohol consumption of the caregivers. There are no statistically significant relationships between the number of clinic attendance ≤ 8 during last 12 months and age, marital status, education level, consumption of alcohol, tobacco or illicit narcotics usage of the patients or family members, monthly income, and distance between clinic and residence.CONCLUSION: Alcohol usage was higher among mental health patients. Being a male patient, alcohol consumption of caregiver and high family income were associated with alcohol usage of patients. Usage of those substances did not significantly affect the clinic attendance.