Routine diagnostic antenatal ultrasound scan: knowledge and perception of pregnant women

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge and perception of pregnant women about antenatal ultrasound scan USS). It is also to determine factors that influence why women seek to do USS in pregnancy and the reasons for choosing a facility for the service.Method: Questionnaires were administered to consecutive samples of patients who came in for antenatal ultrasound scan at our centre by nurses who have been previously trained for the purpose. The scan was then done by a trained sonographer. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 11 Routine antenatal ultrasound scan involves fetal age determination, fetal wellbeing assessment, fetal weight estimation and sex determination where possibleResults: The response rate was 97.5%. Majority of the patients (76.3%) attended higher school and above and 3.7% had no education at all. Two hundred and twenty nine (65.5%) of the patients were sure of their last menstrual period. All the patients were aware of the need for ultrasound scan in pregnancy and 70.4% has had USS done in pregnancies before. Almost all the patients 94.6% believed that USS is necessary in pregnancy. Ninety (25.6%) believed that USS should be done at least 3 times in pregnancy and 110 (31.3%) believed it should be done as often as possible. Eighty six point nine per cent (86.9%) are of the opinion that USS has no harmful effect on the baby. Few of the patients (3.1%) believed that USS should not be done in early pregnancy while majority 85.7% feels it could be done at any time. Majority of the patients came to assess fetal well being. Cost was not a consideration in the choice of where to do the scan.Conclusion: Ultrasound scan is a veritable tool in the management of the pregnant woman. Majority of our patients are aware of ultrasound scan service and many of them have actually used the service before. This should make compliance to doctors' request for ultrasound scan easy and patients should derive the full benefit of Ultrasound scan especially in pregnancy

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

No Abstrac

Umbilical cord parameters in Ilorin: correlates and foetal outcome

Background: The anthropometric parameters of the umbilical cord have clinical significance. Current parameters of the cord, its correlates and related foetal outcome are lacking in our parturients.Objectives: To describe the anthropometric parameters and abnormalities of the umbilical cord; and determine their maternal correlates and foetal outcome.Design: A cross sectional analytical study.Setting: The Obstetric and Gynaecology Department of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between September 2012 and June 2013.Subjects: Healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies.Results: Four hundred and twenty- eight (428) singleton deliveries were studied. The respective mean values of the cord length and width were 526.87±115.5mm and 19.56±11.12mm. Short cord (< 40cm) occurred in 7.2% while long cord (> 69cm) was found in 9.3% of the parturient. The incidences of single umbilical artery, cord round the body and knots were 7%, 8.4% and 14.5% respectively. Nuchal cord was the most common (91.4%). Only gestational age had significant statistical relationship with cord length abnormalities (P = 0.0093). The cord length was an important correlate of cord helices, knots and vessels (P< 0.05).Parity had correlations with the number of vessels(R= 0.099, P=0.042). The cord coiling index was statistically related to the presence of congenital abnormalities (P=0.011). Other perinatal events were not related to umbilical cord parameters. Perinatal asphyxia was the most common indication for NICU admission (3.5%) but there was no significant statistical difference between NICU admission and cord parameters.Conclusion: The umbilical cord parameters in apparently healthy parturients in Ilorin were comparable with others elsewhere. The cord length and helix are important correlates of gestational age and congenital abnormalities. Parity may be related to abnormal umbilical vessels. Cord length, coils, coil index and umbilical vessels should be examined post-natally

Aerobic Bacterial degraders in effluent from Itoku textile industry, Abeokuta

The local textile industry in Itokun village is one major textile industry in Abeokuta Ogun state, known for “adire” production whose processes are not maintained at regulatory standards. This study involves isolating and identifying aerobic microorganisms in waste water effluents from this textile Industry and screening for aerobic degraders among the isolates. Fifty milliliter (50 ml) of three dye effluents; purple, brown and green were collected into sterile bottles and designated (Ef1), (Ef2) and (Ef3). Tap water was used as control (Cont). Isolation, identification and screening of isolates for percentage decolorization were done using standard method. Colony forming units showed the trend Ef3 > Ef2> Ef1. Bacterial isolates included Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus simulans, Micrococcus varians, Bacillus niacinni, Lysinibacillus sp. and Bacillus carbonificus. Aneurinbacillus aneurinilytus alone was isolated from the control sample. Bacillus megaterium and Lysinibacillus sp. were the most predominant species in the effluents. S. simulans degradation was the most efficient and its use could be exploited.Keywords: Aerobic bacteria, textile effluent, dye, Itokun. Afr. J. Biotechnol. Vol. 12 No. 5

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

‘Maternal near-miss’ is defined as a woman who nearly died during pregnancy or following delivery but survived. The story of many women in sub Saharan Africa is that of an escape from death if they do eventually have a safe delivery.1This situation is not unconnected to several factors as it concerns these women, their families, the society and the choices they make

Single-route delaminated clay composites for efficient visible-light photo-mineralization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated genes in water

Drinking water contaminated with antibiotic resistant bacteria could result in loss of antibiotic effectiveness in humans, increased healthcare cost and ultimately death. New delaminated photocatalytic composite (DPC) has been prepared. DPC doped with Cu/Zn kept multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli and its sulphonamide resistance genes in contaminated water at log reduction >6 for 36 h in two disinfection steps under visible-light using fixed-bed mode (downward flow). In contrast, fluoroquinolone resistance genes persisted in treated water after the first disinfection step and were significantly reduced after the second disinfection step. Surface oxygen vacancies were mainly responsible for photoactivity of DPC. No bacteria re-growth was observed in treated water stored in light/dark for 7 days. A 95 % photo-mineralisation of MDR E. coli and its genes was achieved via the release of superoxide radical (in dark/light). Shelf-life study of DPC vs non-delaminated photocatalytic composite over 7 months suggests that the former remained far more efficient than the latter