Health and population problems in Sri Lanka

The most pressing problems noted by the research team included diarrheal diseases (oral rehydration salts are not routinely used); preventable maternal deaths from toxemia, hemorrhage, and sepsis; and a conspiciously high prevalence of motor vehicle fatalities, most of them pedestrians and cyclists. Interventions for several of these problems are proposed, as is a health systems management project comprised of five components - family planning, diarrheal disease control, nutrition, perinatal care, and EPI. The major recommendation in regard to family planning is for a survey of population growth awareness and attitudes, followed by an awareness and promotion program throughout all strata of Sri Lankan society. Also recommended is completion of the detailed morbidity and mortality analysis. Appendices treat causes of mortality, morbidity and mortality trends, vaccine-preventable and intestinal infectious diseases, nutritional status, and malaria and provide 24 tables and 7 figures.