Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41917865›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026

Infectious diseases in pregnancy in Sri Lanka: gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, and policy: a scoping review.

Thilini Agampodi, Hwa Young Kim, Dilrukshi Menike, Digantha Aswaddumage, Madushika Sewwandi, Janith Warnasekara, Dinesha Jayasundara, Indika Senavirathna, Chamila Kappagoda, Raphaël M Zellweger and 1 more

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Thilini Agampodi *Epidemiology, Public Health, Impact Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Hwa Young Kim *Epidemiology, Public Health, Impact Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. hwayoung.kim@ivi.int.
Dilrukshi MenikeDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Digantha AswaddumageDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Madushika SewwandiDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Janith WarnasekaraDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Dinesha JayasundaraDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Indika SenavirathnaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Chamila KappagodaDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.
Raphaël M Zellweger *Epidemiology, Public Health, Impact Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Suneth Agampodi *Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInfectious diseases during pregnancy are often overlooked in the Global South. Country-level mapping of infectious diseases and their effects on pregnancy would provide possible intervention strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and management. This scoping review aims to map the evidence from 2000–2024 on pathogens, mortality, morbidity, and adverse outcomes caused by infectious diseases in pregnancy among pregnant women in Sri Lanka.

methodsWe conducted a PRISMA-ScR-based systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and the Web of Science using key terms related to infectious diseases, pregnancy, and Sri Lanka. We hand-searched 32 local-indexed journals, library catalogs, and grey literature on Ministry of Health websites. Publications in English from January 2000 to March 2024 were included for title/abstract and full-text screening. We performed a narrative synthesis in reporting infectious diseases in pregnancy.

resultsWe synthesized data from 117 records, including 70 scholarly sources and 47 grey literature records, to map infectious diseases impacting pregnant women over the past two decades. The analysis identified 33 pathogens associated with 26 infectious diseases, with 19 conditions linked to maternal deaths. Dengue was the most frequently reported (15 of 70 studies reporting outcomes). Respiratory viruses accounted for nearly half (104/214) of reported maternal fatalities, while malaria, hepatitis B, HIV, and hepatitis E were less frequently documented. Most evidence came from tertiary-care centres, with limited representation of rural areas. This review highlights a decline in dengue-related maternal mortality following the introduction of national management guidelines. However, bacterial infections such as leptospirosis and tuberculosis remain significant contributors to maternal mortality. We identify key gaps, including deficiencies in diagnostics and screening for maternal conditions; research disparities; limited data availability; the absence of pregnancy-specific infectious disease surveillance in Sri Lanka; and shortcomings in classifying infectious diseases in morbidity and mortality surveillance.

conclusionThe data on infectious diseases in pregnant women in Sri Lanka show significant gaps, with available data systematically underrepresenting rural areas. Addressing research gaps, enhancing disease surveillance, and strengthening policy implementation is essential for ending preventable maternal mortality.

Indexed as

Communicable DiseasesPregnancy Complications, InfectiousEvidence GapsFemaleHumansPregnancySri LankaDisease burdenInfectious diseasesPregnancyScoping reviewSri Lanka

Identifiers

PMID41917865
PMCPMC13041171

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.