Asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia using rapid diagnostic test in unbooked pregnant women in rural Ondo-south district, Nigeria

Background. Malaria is a major contributor of maternal and peri-natal morbidity and mortality. The disease may be asymp- tomatic despite sequestration of parasitized red blood cells in the placental micro-circulation with antecedent complications. In such condition, it may also be difficult to identify the malaria parasite by the peripheral blood film microscopy, thus the need for use of simple but reliable tool for malaria parasite diagnosis. Objective and method. To determine the prevalence of asymp- tomatic malaria parasitaemia using the Rapid Diagnostic Test in pregnant unbooked women seen in a primary health centre dur- ing a malaria control campaign programme in rural Ondo-south, District Nigeria. Results. Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia was 25.9%. Only 3 (3.5%) of the 85 women had the long lasting insecticide-treated nets. There was no significant association between malaria parasitaemia, and the age group, parity and gestation age. Conclusion. Given the high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy, routine screening for malaria at booking and scaling-up of other malaria control strategies such as the use of long lasting insecticidal-treated nets and intermittent preventive therapy for pregnant women are recommended

Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy and Subsequent Pregnancy Outcome in a Nigerian Population

Despite a rising prevalence worldwide, there is limited data on pregnancy outcome among African women with prepregnancy or early pregnancy obesity. This was a case-control study to determine the prevalence of maternal obesity in early pregnancy and compare the subsequent pregnancy outcome between 201 women with obesity and 201 non-obese controls in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. The prevalence of obesity in early pregnancy was 9.63%. Obesity was significantly associated with advanced maternal age and parity ≥ 1. It was also a risk factor for pregnancy induced hypertension, admissions during pregnancy, caesarean delivery and associated with 5th minute apgar score ≤3 (0.044). Obesity in early pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome among pregnant Nigerian women. This information should be utilised by physicians to improve the outcome of pregnancy and promote safe motherhood

Malaria in pregnancy: experience with intermittent preventive treatment in a University Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria

No Abstrac

Features and perceptions of menopausal women in Benin City, Nigeria

Background/Objective: The features of menopause have always been assumed to occur only to a minor degree of significance in Nigerian  women. Perceptions of menopausal symptoms are greatly influenced by social, cultural and economic settings and may influence the mode of treatment for menopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine the features and perceptions of natural menopause among menopausal women in Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 533 randomly selected Nigerian women in Benin City, Edo State who had experienced at least 24 continuous months of amenorrhea using a structured questionnaire.Results: The ages of the women studied ranged between 47 and 78 years; mean 57.4 ± 6.3 years. The mean menopausal and menercheal ages were 49.8 ± 2.6 and 15.2 ± 2.0 years. Most (80.7%) were currently married with63.6% in monogamous relationships. Three hundred and fi fty-six women (66.8%) have heard of the word menopause and correctly described it. Menopause was considered a normal event by 97.4%. Majority (407;  77.6%) adjusted very well to the events of menopause with none revealing any serious maladjustment. Three hundred and forty-six women (64.9%) were no longer sexually active. Joint pains (287; 53.8%), hot flushes (272; 51%) and night sweats (22; 42%) were the most common symptoms  believed to be related to menopause. Three hundred and two women (56.7%) actually suffered at least one of the menopause symptoms. Joint pains (52.9%), hot flushes (43.3%) and night sweats (29.8%) were the commonest symptoms experienced. Freedom from monthly bleeding  (50.7%) was the most commonly reported advantage of menopause. Only thirty nine (7.3%) were aware of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and none were on /ever had HRT.Conclusion: Although menopause is well-tolerated by women in our  environment, it needs further investigation. Research priorities include the influence of socio-cultural beliefs on sexuality at menopause and  evaluation of HRT benefits

Caesarean Myomectomy: New Frontier in Surgical Practice

No abstrac

Obésité maternelle en début de grossesse et la conséquence éventuelle de la grossesse chez une population Nigériane

Despite a rising prevalence worldwide, there is limited data on pregnancy outcome among African women with prepregnancy or early pregnancy obesity. This was a case-control study to determine the prevalence of maternal obesity in early pregnancy and compare the subsequent pregnancy outcome between 201 women with obesity and 201 non-obese controls in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. The prevalence of obesity in early pregnancy was 9.63%. Obesity was significantly associated with advanced maternal age and parity ≥1. It was also a risk factor for pregnancy induced hypertension, admissions during pregnancy, caesarean delivery and associated with 5th minute apgar score ≤3 (0.044). Obesity in early pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome among pregnant Nigerian women. This information should be utilised by physicians to improve the outcome of pregnancy and promote safe motherhood (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 55-59).Malgré une prévalence qui augmente partout dans le monde, il existe des données limitées sur les conséquences de grossesse parmi les femmes africaines qui souffrent de l’obésité avant la grossesse ou en début de la grossesse. Il s’agit d’une étude de cas témoin menée dans un Centre Hospitalier Universitaire au Nigéria pour déterminer la prévalence de l’obésité en début de la grossesse et pour comparer la conséquence éventuelle de la grossesse chez 201 femmes obèses et 201 femmes témoins qui ne sont pas obèses, La prévalence de l’obésité en début de la grossesse était 9,63%. L’obésité était significativement liée à l’ag maternel avancé et la parité>1. Elle était un facteur du risque de l’hypertension provoquée par la grossesse, les admission pendant la grossesse, l’accouchement à travers l’opération césarienne et liée à la 5ième minute de l’indice d’Apgar ≤ (0,044). L’obésité en début de la grossesse est un facteur de risque pour des conséquences indésirables de la grossesse chez les femmes enceintes nigérianes Les médecins doivent se servir de cette information pour améliorer la conséquence de la grossesse et pour promouvoir la maternité sans danger (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 55-59)

Trends in regional anaesthesia for caesarean section at University of Benin Teaching Hospital

No Abstracts.Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.4(1) 2001: pp.15-1

The Challenges Of Managing Quintuplets In A Developing Country (Nigeria)

High order multiple deliveries have been reported from a number of developed countries previously but not from a developing country. This report highlights the challenges posed by the management of the second surviving quintuplet delivery in Nigeria at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin, and the subsequent management of the babies. The first was at UNTH in 1988 but the mother took fertility drugs. The challenges encountered during the antenatal care of the mother included the long stay in the hospital of the mother for bed rest, accurate diagnosis of the number of the babies prenatally, management of the weight of the mother and acceleration of the maturation of the babies' lungs. During delivery, resuscitation of the babies with the available health professionals, materials and equipment also posed some problems. Continuous ambubagging with oxygen was performed when some of them went apnoeic. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation with a respirator (i.e. Mechanical ventilation), which was not available during resuscitation or early in their lives, could not be offered. Management consisted of using hot water bottles; perplex glass shied to maintain body temperature instead of incubators and respirators; which also were not available. It is recommended that adequate manpower, equipment and diagnostic procedures be made readily available to cope with such circumstances. This case is highlighted because this is the first known surviving quintuplet delivery in Nigeria by a mother without having taken fertility drugs and to evaluate the management of these babies and their mother in difficult circumstances. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.6(1) 2003: 71-7

Vaginal birth after classical Caesarean section

Current belief in obstetric practice is that the scar of a classical Caesarean section is more prone to rupture than that of a lower segment Caesarean section and that for this reason elective repeat Caesarean should always be undertaken in subsequent pregnancies