Selected determinants and sequelae of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months among infants attending chosen well baby clinics in the Colombo District.

Objectives: To ascertain determinants and impact of the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for four to six months on growth and incidence of respiratory tract and diarrhoeal infections

Design And Setting: A descriptive cross-sectional study of infants aged 4-6 months, visiting selected well baby clinics in Colombo.

Measurements: An interviewer administered questionnaire to determine duration and determinants of EBF and incidence of infections was used. Growth faltering was ascertained by perusing the growth chart.

Admission to medical schools in Sri Lanka: predictive validity of selection criteria.

Objective: To assess the extent to which current selection criteria predict success in Sri Lanka's medical schools.

Methods: The study sample consisted of all students selected to all six medical schools in two consecutive entry cohorts. The aggregate marks of these students at the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level examination, the district of entry, admission category, candidate type (school/private) and gender, were identified as entry point variables.

Challenges in recruiting older twins for the Sri Lankan twin registry.

The National Twin Registry of Sri Lanka was established in 1997 as a volunteer register. To extend it to a population-based register, we examined the effectiveness of tracing older twins by inspecting birth records and recruiting them by postal invitation and in-person contact. Birth records at a divisional secretariat reported from 2 maternity hospitals between the years of 1954-1970 were scrutinised to identify a random sample of twins.

Sri Lankan Twin Registry.

Sri Lanka is an island with genetic diversity between the five main population groups. Our twin registry is the first in the developing world. Initially, we established a volunteer cohort of 4600 twin pairs through a competition advertised in the media.

Middle East migration and health.

"Labour migration to the Middle East from Sri Lanka has been increasing in recent times. Such a situation has not only demographic, but economic and social implications..