Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a notifiable disease in Sri Lanka since 2008. Previous studies show a gap in the
notification of leishmaniasis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the Knowledge, attitudes and
practice of medical officers regarding leishmaniasis.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Anuradhapura district which reported the highest case
load of leishmaniasis. Medical officers from public and private health care institutes in the area filled a self administered questionnaire in the presence of the investigators.
Results: One hundred and eighty-eight (188) medical officers completed the questionnaire. Of them, 95.7% were
aware of leishmaniasis as a parasitic infection and 84.7% correctly identified Leishmania donovani as the causative
organism in Sri Lanka. From the respondents, 181 (96.8%) knew that the vector of leishmaniasis is sand fly.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis was reported as the most prevalent form of leishmaniasis in the country by 176 (94.1%).
Nearly half of the respondents (98, 54.1%) were aware of the fact that the Anuradhapura district has the highest
disease burden. Many of them had the idea that leishmaniasis is an emerging disease (155, 84.3%,) and early diagnosis is
important in controlling the disease (163, 89.1%). Although about three fourth (123, 73.7%,) of the participants mentioned
that leishmaniasis should be notified at first clinical suspicion, only 74 (42.5%) were aware that it is a legal requirement.
Some medical officers (39, 22%) believed that the current notification system in the country is not effective. Unavailability
of notification forms (60, 36.8%) heavy workload (85, 50.3%) and inadequate supportive staff (55, 35.1%) were reported as
barriers for timely notification. Even though 105 (58.0%) of medical officers had suspected leishmaniasis during the last 8
years period only 35 (19.4%) had notified.
Conclusions: Even though more than 90% of the participants had good theoretical knowledge about leishmaniasis;
notification of leishmaniasis is considerably inadequate. This study emphasizes the need for greater efforts to improve the
notification of leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka.
