Correlation between Umbilical Cord Length, Birth Weight and Length of Singleton Deliveries at Term in the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Background: The umbilical cord and placenta have been considered to significantly contribute to the perinatal outcome. However, in our environment attempt at exploring its use has been limited due to sociocultural believes. This study aimed to identify the relationship between the umbilical cord length, newborn length and weight.Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of three hundred and five pregnant women who consented to participate in the study and had live singleton fetuses at term.Results: The average birth weight was 3.23 ± 0.50 kilograms and the average baby’s length was 49.75 ± 2.40 centimeters. The average umbilical cord length was 51.50 ± SD 6.67 centimeters’. There was a positive correlation between umbilical cord length and the length of the baby (r = 0.130, p = 0.024); likewise the umbilical cord length and the weight of the baby at birth (r=0.145, p=0.011). A positive statistical relationship was found between the birth weight and the birth length of the babies (r=0.498, p<0.001).Conclusion: The umbilical cord length contributes significantly to determining the newborn weight and length.Health education on the relevance of proper examination of the placenta and umbilical cord by the health care givers should be instituted.Key words: Umbilical cord length, Birth weight, Birth length

From traditional birth attendants to hospital: a maternal near-miss

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Carvenous hemangioma of the uterine cervix: A case report

Carvenous hemangioma of the uterine cervix is a rare clinical condition which has the potential of being life threatening. This rare clinical condition  can manifest with patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding, menorrhagia with eventual anaemia. The case report here is that of a 27 year old Para o+o lady who was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Unit of our hospital with a day history of a huge mass protruding per vagina and a history of significant bleeding per vagina. Packed cell volume was 16% on admission and she had 4 units of blood transfused. She subsequently had examination under anaesthesia and excision of the prolapsed mass done via the vaginal route. Histology of the excised mass was in keeping with  cavernous hemangioma of the uterus. Her Postoperative clinical state was satisfactory. Key words: Carvenous; hemangioma; uterus

Prevalence of Aeromonas species and Escherichia coli in stool samples of primary school children in Ofada, Ogun state, Nigeria

Background: Diarrhoea is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in childhood. Bacterial diarrhoea is a common disorder. Aeromonas species and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are some of the aetiological agents associated with diarrhoea in children.Objective: To determine the prevalence of Aeromonas species and E. coli in the stool samples of primary school children as well as the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates.Methods: Stool samples were obtained from pupils (diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic) aged four to eighteen years in two primary schools in Ofada. The stool specimens were processed by standard microbiological methods and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using disc diffusion method.Results: Out of 104 stool samples, E. coli was isolated from seven (6.73%) stool samples while three stool samples yielded other pathogens such as Salmonella species, Shigella species, and Proteus vulgaris. Aeromonas spp was not isolated. Pathogenic E. coli was more prevalent among pupils aged 11 to 15 years. The susceptibility of E. coli to commonly used antibiotics (such as tetracycline and ampicillin) was < 30% compared to > 70% for Augmentin, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid. E. coli showed 100% susceptibility to only gentamicin.Conclusion: E. coli was the predominant bacterial agent isolated from stool samples of school children in Ofada, Ogun State. Gentamicin may be recommended as an effective antibiotic agent against E. coli diarrhoeal diseases in the population studied

Knowledge, attitude and willingness to accept Caesarean Section among women in Ogbomoso , southwest Nigeria

Introduction: Caesarean section (CS) is a common procedure in obstetrics and has contributed immensely to improving maternal and foetal outcome; there are still concerns about the knowledge, attitude and willingness to accept the procedure among women especially those in the developing world.Objective: This study seeks to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and acceptance of women about CS in Ogbomoso. These women were more educated than most of their counterparts in South Sudan but because of the political situation we are unlikely to get similar data from South Sudan and therefore this study is of interest.Methodology: This is a descriptive study which was carried out in four health facilities. Respondents were selected using the systematic random technique with a sample interval of 2. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 16.Results: Of the 410 respondents, 63.2% of the women have a good knowledge of CS as a method of delivery. When CS was compared to vaginal delivery, 33.5% said that CS was preferable to vaginal delivery because the pain involved was much less; this view was however disagreed upon by 54.8% of the respondents. Only 75.6% of the respondents were ready to accept CS if there was a need for it.Conclusion: Mothers should be educated on the process involved in Caesarean delivery, the indication, advantages and complications in order to help them make the right informed decision.Keywords: Women knowledge, attitude, Caesarean section, Nigeri

Social Meaning and Consequences of Infertility in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Background: This study examined the meaning of infertility from layman's perspective, and experiences of women suffering from infertility among reproductive age women seeking care at the gynaecology unit of the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were employed. Quantitative data collection was by the aid of a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire among 200 women seeking care for infertility at the hospital. Qualitative data collection was by Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs).Result: Approximately 40% and 60% of the respondents seeking care for infertility were suffering from primary and secondary infertility respectively. Perceived meaning and   etiologies of childlessness were multidimensional, but 33% of the respondents not sure of the causal factor. Seventy-nine percent   were under pressure to become pregnant. The high premium placed on fertility within marriage has placed   a larger proportion of them under pressure from their husbands (25%), their mother-in-laws (40%), and the community (14%).Conclusion: This study concluded that women regard infertility to be caused by multiplicity of factors. Most of these etiologies were unscientific and unverifiable. Fruitful expectations also put enormous burden on those women suffering from infertility including adverse psychosexual effects. The unceasing pressure due to infertility   in this group of patients calls for urgent intervention as most of these women become susceptible to high risk sexual behavior, depression and other severe consequences

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice about menstruation and menstrual hygiene among secondary high school girls in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria

Background: Menstruation has more profound effect on quality of education than other aspect of puberty because it involves a learning component as well as elements affected by the school environment and infrastructure. It is, therefore, imperative to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Secondary School girls in Ogbomoso on the subject of menstruation and menstrual hygiene.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out between June and August 2016. A total of 447 eligible female adolescent secondary school students were selected by multistage sampling technique. A semi-structured facilitated self- administered questionnaire was used.Results: Majority (96.4%) of the adolescents have heard about menstruation before menarche while 55.9% had good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Despite the high level of knowledge, about 64% of the respondents describe their response to their first menses as scary, discomforting or emotionally disturbing. Also, only 25% of the respondents had good menstrual hygiene practice. Factors that were significantly associated with good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene in this study were older adolescent age (15-19 years) (χ2=47.68, P<0.0001); adolescents whose mothers have greater than secondary school education (χ2=42.52, P<0.0001); and those living with their parents (χ2=123.9 ,P=0.001)  while only living with parents significantly influenced good practices.Conclusions: The study concluded that majority of the adolescents do not observe good hygienic practice during menstruation despite relatively good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Efforts have to be put into ensuring that adolescents are well educated on the meaning of menstruation, the importance of good hygienic practice both in schools and at home.

Patterns and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Ile Ife, Nigeria

Background: Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) is a cost effective intervention in saving under-five children’s lives in the resource poor settings. However, EBF rates have been shown to be low in these regions with variation in the duration of EBF.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess pattern and predictors of EBF among mothers attending well infant clinic at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Ile Ife.Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out between October and December 2014. A total of 250 eligible mothers were selected by simple random sampling among women attending well infant clinic OAUTHC, Ile Ife.A semi-structured selfadministered questionnaire was used.Results: The prevalence of EBF in this study was 23%. The pattern of EBF seen was in the duration of EBF. About 60% gave breast milk alone to their children only in the first month of life. Only 23% was breastfed exclusively for four to five months, while 5% breastfed exclusively for at least six months. About 40% practiced mixed feeding right from the first day of life.The predictors of EBF identified include; ANC attendance, a birth interval greater than or equal to 2 years, husband's positive attitude, giving breast milk as the first feed in life, and vaginal delivery.Conclusion: The practice of EBF within 4 to 6 months of life is still very low. Strategies that target improving access to quality ANC, and emphasize husbands’ roles in encouraging EBF should be giving priority.Keywords: Pattern, predictors, exclusive breastfeedin

Pre-and-post-operative aversion among men whose partners had caesarean delivery in a patriarchal setting.

Objectives: The study evaluated pre and post-operative perception and aversion to caesarean delivery (CD) among men whose partners underwent the procedure.Design: A multicentre cross-sectional study.Setting: Two tertiary and two secondary health facilities.Participants: Men whose partners underwent CD at the study sites.Methods: Participants were recruited by purposive sampling, data collection was through interaction via an interviewer-administered questionnaire first immediately the decision for CD was made and thereafter on the third postoperative day. Men whose partners had vaginal delivery were excluded from the study and data management was with SPSS version 21.0 while p&lt;0.05 was significant.Results: Awareness about CD was 84.0% mainly through the healthcare workers (42.1%) and the female partner (34.1%); 88.0% of participants recommended CD for medically-indicated reasons. The greatest influence on consent was the male partner (48.8%). The major pre-operative concerns were limitation of family size (34.7%) and fear of repeat CD (34.0%). Pre-operative perceptions of CD included being expensive (60.7%), fear of the procedure (48.0%), fear of complications (45.3%) and longer hospital stay (44.0%). Aversion to CD was 30.0% pre and 5.3% post-operation; predictors of aversion were history of previous surgery among male or female partner and awareness about CD. However, there were reductions in negative perception and aversion post-operation.Conclusion: The high negative perception and aversion to CD among male partners were reduced post-operation. Healthcare workers should address the concerns and negative perceptions about CD and prioritize patient-friendly experiences during surgical operations

Perspectives of health care professionals on artificial insemination of donor semen: appraising their knowledge and perceptions: a single institution study in Nigeria

Background: Artificial inseminations of donor semen (AID) involve use of heterologous donated semen for conception in infertile couple when indicated or in a single woman desirous of pregnancy. Its practice often requires regulation to address possible ethical and legal issues which may arise. In formulating acceptable guidelines/policies, the perspectives of health professionals and the participants should be considered. Therefore, we sought to explore the knowledge and perception of semen donation for artificial insemination among health professionals.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted on consenting health workers in a single health institution using a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge and perception on artificial insemination of donor semen (AID). Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied to the data collected with a statistically significant value of <0.05.Results: One hundred and twenty-one health professionals completed the questionnaires. The mean age of the respondents was 27.58±5.5years. Sixty of the respondents were males while 61 were females. Eighty-four of the respondents (69.4%) demonstrated good knowledge of AID while 37 (30.6%) had poor knowledge. Cadre of health professionals and marital status influenced the knowledge of respondents. Perceptions on AID varied among the respondents mostly influenced by psycho-social factors and possible legal disputes on third party reproductive process. None of the male respondents has ever donated semen and willingness to donate semen was low; with anonymity preferred by the willing donors.Conclusions: Substantial knowledge gap of AIDS existed among health professionals which were influenced by cadre and marital status. Psycho-social factors and possible legal disputes influenced their perceptions of AID