Awareness, Perception And Practice Of Female Genital Mutilation Among Expectant Mothers In Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, North-Central Nigeria

WHO estimates that some 130 million women worldwide are affected, and every year another 2 million girls and young women are at risk of undergoing the practice of FGM.Although Nigeria has a prevalence of19% in 2003,a reduction from 25% prevalence of 1999 national survey, it still has high absolute number of cases with wide regional variation. The awareness and perception of expectantmothers may give an insight as to what awaits their unborn daughters and have a bearing on the future of the practice. : Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 260 expectant mothers at the antenatal clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital between 1 and 31 July 2007. : Majority of the respondents (94.6%) were aware of FGM. Mass media was the main source of information. Majority(83.8%) wanted the practice to be discontinued, 31.3% reported having had FGM, most done by traditional healers. About 14.6% have a plan to circumcise their daughters citing tradition, marriage prospects, and faithfulness to husband as their reasons. Only 16.2% wanted the practice to continue. There is high level of awareness of the FGM among respondents who also have negative attitude to the practice, even as the practice is still prevalent. More health education is needed to illustrate the dangers of the practice in order to safeguard the health of the girl-child.

Anxiety and depressive disorders among infertile women attending clinic in a Nigeria teaching hospital

Children are highly valued, and childlessness is culturally not acceptable in any typical sub-Saharan African community. Involuntary infertility is associated with significant distress and psychological disturbances, and different psychiatric disorders have been reported among women undergoing fertility treatment. This study aimed to determine prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders and factors that were predictive of these disorders among women with infertility problem that were attending clinic at a Northeastern Nigerian Teaching Hospital. The study was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey of two hundred and seven adult women on treatment for infertility. Their sociodemographic variables were obtained by the use of pro formal questionnaire and clinical parameters were obtained from their case notes. Hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to determine the presence of anxiety and/or depression using cut-off point of 11. Eighty-five respondents had anxiety and/or depressive disorders which constituted 41.1% of the studied population. Fifty-seven respondents (27.5%) had anxiety disorders while fifty-three (25.6%) had depression and thirty-seven-people (17.9%) had co-morbidity for both disorders. The factors that were predictive of depression were: previous marriage, lack of support, stigmatizing behaviours, tuba-uterine factor as the cause of infertility and surgical method of treatment. Similarly, factors that were predictive of anxiety disorder were: stigmatizing behaviours and lack of supports. Others were long duration of infertility treatment and surgical treatment for infertility as against medical treatment. This study found high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among women on treatment for infertility and recommend that more attention be paid to their mental health.Keywords: infertility, anxiety disorder, depression, NigeriaAfr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (May, 2019); 157- 16

The prevalence and clinical pattern of infertility in Bauchi, northern Nigeria

Context: Infertility is a common condition and is now viewed as a global reproductive health issue. The causes of infertility vary widely, both among and within countries.Objectives: To describe the magnitude, pattern, aetiology, outcome of infertility and its associated factors in Bauchi, northern Nigeria.Methods: This was a prospective study of a cohort of infertile women who were recruited at the gynaecological clinics of ATBUTH and FMC, Azare, all in Bauchi State between July 2013 and June 2014. They were followed up till December 2014. A structured form was used to collect relevant clinical information on each participant's clinical presentation and outcome of management. Data were analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20.Results: There were a total of 1850 new gynaecological cases out of which 443 were infertility cases. This gives a prevalence of infertility of 23.9% in the clinics. Of the 406 enrolled infertile women, 155 (38.2%) had primary infertility while 251 (61.8%) had secondary infertility. Tubal factor was the predominant cause accounting for 167 (46.1%) of infertility cases among the women. Women with a history of vaginal discharge, puerperal sepsis, induced abortion and pelvic surgery were more likely to have tubal factor infertility.Conclusion: Infertility is a common presentation in the clinics and the secondary type is predominant in this setting. The cause of infertility most commonly identified in the studied population was tubal factor and its best option of treatment is not available in the study area.Keywords: Infertility, Prevalence, Women, Nigeri