Twin births in the Comoros

Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of twin births in the Comoros Islands.Design: Combined retrospective and non-randomised prospective study.Setting: Hospital El-Ma’aru Moroni Grand - Comoros and Center Medico- Chirurgical Domoni - Anjouan.Subjects: One hundred and nine patients with twin deliveries.Results: During the period of study, there were 4370 deliveries, out of which 109 were twin births, giving an incidence rate of 25/1,000 deliveries. Twin births rate increased with increasing parity. The perinatal mortality rate of twin delivery was seven times that ofsingleton. Low birthweight rate was 54% among twin births. Retention rate of second twin was 12%, with home delivery of the first co-twin in 62% of cases. Uterine atony and malpresentation were the principal factors in the aetiology of retained second twin.Conclusion: Multiple pregnancy is common in the Comoros and the epidemiology and clinical significance are consistent with established data. Clinicians and midwives in Comoros must be aware of these facts, and endeavour to make early diagnosis and institute appropriatemanagement within the available scarce resources, in order to improve maternal and foetal outcome of twin births

How Different Kinds of Innovation Affect Trade Performance of Enterprises in China?

The authors greatly acknowledge financial support from the Ministry of Education, P.R., China for the major research project “A Study on the Transformation of China’s Outward Pattern of Economic Development (13JJD790021)”. Abstract The paper aims to empirically investigate the impact of the different kinds of technological innovation on export performance of Chinese manufacturing industries. To do this, we distinguish between different dimensions of innovation activities including R&D intensity, innovation capability, invention intensity, skill intensity, foreign technology and new product development, and examine their distinct impact on industrial export. The fixed-effect and instrumental variable (IV) regression methods have been applied on a panel dataset of China’s two-digit manufacturing industries over the 1998-2013 period.  The results indicate that R&D intensity and innovation capability are significant determinants of export performance in China while the effect that innovation capability have made on export is greater than R&D intensity. In addition, invention intensity, skill intensity and foreign technology have broadly accelerated the export performance of China’s manufacturing industries. However, skill intensity and foreign technology have the relatively stronger effect on export among different kinds of innovation indicators. Furthermore, Chinese exports have greatly benefitted from the activities which are linked to the new product development. Our result reveal that China’s inclusion into WTO in 2002 has been a stimulating factor for country’s trade liberalisation process. These results are robust to several tests and sensitivity checks, as well as alternative measures on various channels of technological innovation. The evidence has significant policy lessons for China and other emerging countries. Keywords: R&D, Innovation output, Invention intensity, New product development, Foreign Technology transfer, Export performance DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-10-07 Publication date:May 31st 201

Risk scoring for domestic violence in pregnancy

Most studies and work on domestic violence against women are aimed at helping victims. Studies aimed at detecting those at risk of domestic violence are few. Risk identification has important implications for early detection and prevention. A risk scoring tool was developed and tested on 466 antenatal clinic attendees at 3 levels of health care in Zaria, Nigeria. The prevalence of domestic violence was 11.8%.The sensitivity of the tool was 96.6% and specificity 11.8%.The positive predictive value and accuracy were 13.7% and 22.5%respectively. The tool has a high sensitivity and could be a good screening tool for identifying those at risk for domestic violence in pregnancy. Keywords:Domestic violence ;pregnancy;risk scoring tool Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp.18-2

Ectopic (tubal) Molar Gestation: Report Of Two Cases

Ectopicmolar gestation is a rare event. Itsmalignant potential is similar to that of an intrauterine molar pregnancy. To document two cases of tubalmolar gestations seen over a 10-year period. Case series. Two young Nigerian undergraduates presented with features of ruptured tubal pregnancy. They had total salpingectomy and histopathological analysis of the tubal specimens revealed complete hydatidiform mole.HCGlevel normalized in both caseswithin threeweeks of treatment. Ectopic molar gestation does occur occasional in our setting. It is pertinent that clinicians in this part of the world be aware of this and to take routine histological examination of tubal specimens in ectopic pregnancy very seriously in order to diagnosed cases of ectopic molar gestations early and mount appropriate post treatment surveillance. Keywords: ectopic,Tubal,MolarGestation. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 392-39

Role of men in contraceptive use in Northern Nigeria: A cross sectional study

Background: Men take most or all important decisions in the home in most African societies and this includes contraception. It is therefore important that their role in this issue be investigated in our setting.Objectives: The objectives of this study are to directly determine the role of men in contraceptive use or non-use in the Zaria area of northern Nigeria, to indirectly increase the awareness of contraception amongst men and hopefully improve their contraceptive practice.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 900 men. Multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents. Trained male interviewers administered the questionnaires. Focus group discussions and an in-depth interview were also conducted.Results: Six hundred and seven (67.4%) of the men knew about contraception. Three hundred and thirty seven (37.4%) may use contraceptives if need be and 230 (25.6%) presently used contraception. If their wife/wives used contraceptives without their permission, 277 (30.8%) would scold her, 165 (18.3%) would beat her, 144 (16%) would divorce her, 128 (14.2%) would report to family members and 106 (11.8%) would do nothing. Focus group discussions and in-depth interview showed a high awareness rate and willingness to discuss contraception, but areluctance to practice it.Conclusion: There was a high level of awareness but a low level of contraceptive use amongst men in the environment. This has important implications for the success of contraceptive campaigns and programmes.Efforts need to be continued to encourage men in the setting to be more proactive towards contraception. Regular periodic surveys are necessary to help in the planning of educational and campaign programmes.Keywords: Contraception, men, role, awareness, practice, educatio

Intussusception in pregnancy: report of a case

A 35 year old Gravida 10 Para 8+1 (7 alive) presented with three months amenorrhoea and acute onset of abdominal pain with vomiting and constipation. Clinical and sonological evaluations were supportive of an intussusception occurring in a first trimester twin pregnancy. She was resuscitated and had ileal resection with end to end anastomosis. She subsequently had home delivery at term with resultant perinatal death of the second twin and severe anaemia. As intestinal obstruction is a rare but serious event in pregnancy, the importance of high index of suspicion in the evaluation of abdominal pain in pregnancy is emphasised. The usefulness of ultrasound in the early diagnosis of intussusception in pregnancy is discussed