Misconception about ultrasound among Nigerian women attending specialist and tertiary health institutions in Ibadan

Background: In women health, ultrasound is well established as a safe tool, and it is often the first imaging modality employed in the, screening, investigation and treatment of conditions in obstetrics and gynaecology. However, women's misconceptions about health issues, aetiology and treatment of diseases conditions may have negative impact on their health care seeking behaviour. Client's perspective of diagnosis including investigation process is therefore crucial in health care. This study aimed at finding out the misconceptions expressed by clients about ultrasound, and the potential predictors associated with this attitude among women in Nigeria.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3137 women who presented for transabdominal ultrasound scan between August and November 2010 in two referral hospitals in Nigeria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analysis was performed applying logistic regression analysis; predictors of misconceptions  expressed by clients about ultrasound, and misconceptions among women in Nigeria were identified using SPSS Statistics (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 17 software.Results: The mean age of the women was 33.8 years (standard deviation = 7.9), with 88.8% currently married. More than half of the responders had tertiary education (56.6%), followed by secondary school education  (34.5%), primary education (7.8%) and no formal education (1.1%). There were 59 women who held the misconception that ultrasound was dangerous to health accounting for 1.9% of the study population. The reasons given by this group of women Included; 'ultrasound can kill or destroys the body cells' (35.6%); it can cause cancer (15.3%); 'the radiation is only dangerous to some organs of the body' (6.8%); it can harm or deform the fetus (6.7%); it is only dangerous when exposure is frequent (5.1%); and only dangerous when handled by unskilled medical personnel (1.7%).Conclusion: This study provides insight to the wide range of issues about clients' perception and misconception regarding ultrasound safety. These issues have to be addressed to improve better compliance and patronage about ultrasound scans in Nigeria. We suggest that robust counseling session is imperative to address all the views and possible concerns of clients to improve better service delivery

Maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in pre-eclampsia in Southwestern Nigeria

Richard Busayo Olatunji,1 Ademola Joseph Adekanmi,1 Millicent Olubunmi Obajimi,1 Olumuyiwa Adebola Roberts,2 Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo3 1Department of Radiology, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, 3Department of Community Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) poses a serious challenge to maternal and fetal health in Africa. It is associated with hemodynamic changes that may affect the internal carotid/ophthalmic artery circulation with consequent neuro-ophthalmic manifestations. Ophthalmic artery Doppler (OAD) ultrasound is an important tool that can be used to detect hemodynamic changes in PE and monitor its severity. In this study, we evaluated hemodynamic changes on OAD ultrasound in the ophthalmic arteries of pre-eclamptic women and compared these with values in healthy pregnant women. Methods: OAD parameters, such as, peak systolic velocity, peak diastolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, and peak ratio, were measured on transorbital triplex ultrasound scan with a 7–10 MHz multifrequency linear transducer in 42 consenting pre-eclamptic patients and 41 pregnant controls matched for maternal age, gestational age, and parity at the Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan. Univariate, bivariate, and receiver operating characteristic curve data analyses were performed. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Mean resistivity index, pulsatility index, and peak systolic velocity were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic patients than in the controls. Mean peak diastolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and peak ratio were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the resistivity index (sensitivity 75%, specificity 77.8%) could distinguish mild from severe PE while the peak ratio (sensitivity 90.5%, specificity 81.3%) could accurately detect PE. Conclusion: OAD ultrasound can be used to monitor patients with PE for early detection of progression to severe forms before cerebral complications develop. OAD screening of patients at high risk for PE can also detect early changes of hemodynamic derangement. Keywords: ophthalmic artery, hemodynamic changes, ultrasound, Doppler parameter

Transvaginal ultrasonography: a survey of the acceptability and its predictors among a native African women population

Omolola M Atalabi1, Imran O Morhason-Bello2, Ademola J Adekanmi1, Anthony O Marinho3, Babatunde O Adedokun4, Adegoke O Kalejaiye3, Kayode Sogo3, Sikiru A Gbadamosi31Department of Radiology; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine/University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan; 3St Gregory's Specialist Clinic and Ultrasound Diagnostic Centre, Yemetu, Ibadan; 4Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, Ibadan, NigeriaObjective: To determine the acceptability of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) and associated factors among Nigerian women.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3137 women who presented for transabdominal ultrasound scan between August and November 2010 in two referral hospitals in Nigeria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analysis was performed applying logistic regression analysis; predictors of willingness of participants regarding transvaginal ultrasound were identified using SPSS Statistics (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 17 software.Results: The mean age of the women was 33.8 years (standard deviation = 7.9), with 88.8% currently married. About 84% were willing to have TVU, while 54.2% were indifferent about the gender of the sonologist. About 17.3% believed that the procedure is painful. Significant predictors of willingness to have TVU were previous sexual experience and douching, prior painful vaginal examination, and vaginal surgery.Conclusion: The majority of Nigerian women expressed a willingness to have the TVU procedure without necessarily opting for any gender preference of the operator. Women should be adequately counseled on the operations of the procedure so as to be able to psychologically prepare for them.Keywords: transvaginal ultrasound, willingness, Nigeria, Afric