A Descriptive Study of Different Methods of Cervical Cancer Screening among Ever-Married Women in 35-Year and 45-Year Cohorts in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVE: Screening for cervical cancer in Sri Lankan females with Pap smears (conventional cytology) has shown no marked reduction in cervical cancer incidence over the past two decades. The study aims to compare the efficacy of Pap smear, with other screening tools such as Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) and Human Papilloma Virus/deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV/DNA) (using cobas 4800) in detection of underlying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer among 35 and 45 year old ever married women in Kalutara districtin Sri Lanka. METHODS: Women from 35-year cohort and 45-year cohort were selected from all Public Health Midwife areas (n=413) in Kalutara district by random sampling. Pap smear, LBC, and HPV/DNA specimen were collected s from women who attended the Well Woman Clinics (WWC) . Women with positive results from any method were confirmed by colposcopy.  Results: Of the, 510 and 502 women in the 35-year cohort and 45-year cohort, respectively, included in the analysis, nine women among 35-year cohort (1.8%) and 7 women among 45-year cohort (1.4%) had cytological abnormality (positive results) with Pap smears. Thirteen women among 35-year cohort (2.5%) and 10 women among 45-year cohort (2%) age groups had cytological abnormality (positive results) with Liquid Based Cytology reports. Total of 32 women among 35-year cohort (6.2%) and 24 women among 45-year cohort (4.8%)  were positive for HPV/DNA test. Of  the women tested positive on screening, colposcopy revealed that HPV/DNA method was superior to Pap and LBC for detecting CIN while the results of latter two were comparable. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The CIN detection rate by colposcopy was high with HPV/DNA screening with cobas 4800, whereas the detection rate by LBC was insignificantly higher than Pap smears.

Improving access to quality family planning services in Nepal and Sri Lanka: insights from a South-South learning exchange.

Nepal and Sri Lanka ministries of health shared best practices and learnings, in a South-South learning exchange (SSLE) to improve access to quality and rights-based family planning services. The SSLE between the two countries followed a five-step methodology designed by the WHO, under the Family Planning Accelerator project. SSLE between the two countries started in January 2020 and is still continuing. Both countries started implementation of the learnings (step 4) at the time of preparing this manuscript (December 2021). An independent consultant from Sri Lanka carried out an evaluation, to inform future SSLEs. The evaluation included a desk review on SSLE and family planning in both countries and key informant interviews with Sri Lanka Ministries Health, WHO CO, external partners. A final evaluation of the outcomes/impact is planned in December 2022. The SSLE resulted in a systematic cross-country transfer of knowledge and implementation of the learnings. Sri Lanka implemented a web-based system for logistics management of family planning commodities and Nepal commenced implementing integrated family planning services in a decentralised environment using a lifecycle approach to improve postpartum family planning uptake. The success of this SSLE is attributed to the rigorous methodology, country-led designing of the learning agenda and process, extensive communication amongst the teams, a focus on outcomes, commitment and leadership by ministries of health in both countries. Learning and technical assistance needs of countries can be met by SSLE if national contexts, availability of resources are considered.

Equity in reproductive and maternal health services in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: The target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is now closer than ever. There is lack of sufficient progress in achieving the MDG targets in many low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, there has also been concerns about wide spread inequity among those that are on track to achieve the health-related MDGs. Bangladesh has made a notable progress towards achieving the MDG 5 targets. It is, however, important to assess if this is an inclusive and equitable progress, as inequitable progress may not lead to sustainable health outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of inequities in reproductive and maternal health services in Bangladesh and propose relevant recommendations for decision making. METHODS: The 2007 Bangladesh demographic and health survey data is analyzed for inequities in selected maternal and reproductive health interventions using the slope and relative indices of inequality. RESULTS: The analysis indicates that there are significant wealth-related inequalities favouring the wealthiest of society in many of the indicators considered. Antenatal care (at least 4 visits), antenatal care by trained providers such as doctors and nurses, content of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, delivery in health facility and delivery by caesarean section all manifest inequities against the least wealthy. There are no wealth-related inequalities in the use of modern contraception. In contrast, less desired interventions such as delivery by untrained providers and home delivery show wealth-related inequalities in favour of the poor. CONCLUSIONS: For an inclusive and sustainable improvement in maternal and reproductive health outcomes and achievement of MDG 5 targets, it essential to address inequities in maternal and reproductive health interventions. Under the government's stewardship, all stakeholders should accord priority to tackling wealth-related inequalities in maternal and reproductive health services by implementing equity-promoting measures both within and outside the health sector.