Is hysterosalpingography still relevant in workup of infertility? A review article

Objective: To examine the current role of Hysterosalpingography in the investigation of the infertile couple in view of the increasing use of Laparoscopy in the evaluation and management of infertility.Materials: Electronic search of published literature was done using the Pubmed, Cochrane libraries and Google search engine. The search was restricted to English language articles.Conclusion: Hysterosalpingography is a simple method of evaluating fallopian tube patency and cervicouterine abnormalities. It is virtually non-invasive; and it can be therapeutic. HSG has a high specificity and a high positive predictive value; it also has a low complication rate. It requires less skill acquisition and necessary equipment are readily available. Laparoscopy should be performed in cases of abnormal hysterosalpingogram or persisting infertility in despite of normal HSG and other parameters

Knowledge and Practices of PMTCT among Health Care Providers in Private Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria

Introduction: In the developed countries where mother to child transmission of the virus is still high preventing MTCT is essential and starts during the antepartum period where diagnosis can be made andantiretrovirals and other prevention strategies can be instituted. A  significant proportion of Maternity care and delivery services are rendered by private hospitals. Adequate knowledge by health care providers ofantiretroviral use and other PMTCT strategies will be required to ensure control of vertical transmission of the virus.Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of PMTCT among health care providers in private health facilities in Ilorin, Nigeria.Method: This is a review of health care providers in private health facilities Ilorin, Nigeria, between December2011 and November2012. Information on biodata, general knowledge on HIV and PMTCT and practices done to prevent vertical transmission were collected with use of questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 17.Result: 265 questionnaires were applied but 223 were complete and analyzed. Their age range was 20-62years; mean age was 32.45+7.0SDyrs and Mean working experience was 5.89+5.17SD yrs. Nurses constituted the greater percentage 64.1% of the health care providers. Knowledge that vertical transmission could be prevented was good (95.5%), however 15.2% felt HIV could be transmitted through sharing of spoon or eating together. Only 20% had training in PMTCT and 17% worked in health facilities where ARV was administered to HIV positive pregnant women. A larger number 72% referred the HIV positive women to other centres for antenatal care and delivery. Antiretroviral drugs administered to the mothers were, 42.1% administered single drug ARV therapy, 21.1% gave 2 ARV drugs which is not in any standard protocol while only 5.3%  administered 3 ARV drugs. Prophylactic ARV administration to the babies also revealed deficiencies.Conclusion: Knowledge and practice of PMTCT among health care providers in private sectors was poor. There were no clear cut guidelines for  antiretroviral drug administration for mothers and babies. Training and retraining on PMTCT should be encouraged.Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, health care provider, PMTC

Pharmacological Exposure of Pregnant Mothers in Ilorin, Nigeria

Context: Use of drug during pregnancy is a universal event. However, in developing countries, drug use is poorly controlled as most of the drugs could be obtained without prescription. This constitutes potential hazard both for the mother and the fetus.Objective: To determine the pattern of drug use (including alcohol and smoking) prescription and non prescription of drug by pregnant mothers in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.Study Design: A cross sectional study of pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.Result: Four hundred 400 pregnant women participated in the study, 335 adequately completed questionnaire for data analysis. Majority of the respondents 273 (81.5%) had taken one or more drugs, 62 (18.5%) had not used any. Average number of drugs used was 2.7. Routine haematinics (folic acid and Ferrous Sulphate) are the common drug taken by 241 (81.5%) of the respondents. Anti malarial drugs were taken by 47 (14%) while herbal drug was taken by 41 (12.2%). Five (1.5%) of the respondents admitted to taking alcohol and only one woman (0.3%) admitted to smoking cigarette. One (0.3%) each of the respondents was on anti depressant and anticonvulsant drugs. Occupation was significantly related to herbal use. Parity was also significantly related to alcohol consumption and the use of unprescribed drugs.Conclusion: Drug use is common during pregnancy. Haematinics were the commonest drug used. Herbs are used to some extent and antimalarials are underutilized. Alcohol is minimally used and smoking during pregnancy is virtually non- existent. There is need to caution our pregnant mothers on the use of herbs as there is no full understanding of their pharmacokinetics

Attitudes to female genital mutilation/cutting among male adolescents in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background. The central role of males in female reproductive health issues in patriarchal societies makes them an important group in the eradication of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).Objectives. To determine knowledge about and attitudes to FGM/C among male adolescents, and their preparedness to protect their future daughters from it.Methods. A cross-sectional survey among male adolescent students in Ilorin, Nigeria. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire after consent had been obtained from them or their parents. Statistical analysis was with SPSS version 20.0 (IBM, USA). A p-value of <0.05 was taken as significant.Results. Of 1 536 male adolescents (mean age 15.09 (standard deviation 1.84) years, range 14 - 19), 1 184 (77.1%) were aware of FGM/C, 514 (33.5%) supported female circumcision, 362 (23.6%) would circumcise their future  daughters, 420 (27.3%) were of the opinion that FGM/C had benefits, mostly as a necessity for womanhood (109, 7.1%), and 627 (40.8%) perceived it as  wickedness against females; 546 (35.5%) were aware of efforts to eradicate FGM/C, and 42.2% recommended education as the most important intervention to achieve this.Conclusion. Education and involvement in advocacy may transform male adolescents into agents for eradication of FGM/C

Predictors of Menopausal Symptoms Severity among Women in Ilorin, Nigeria

Many factors affect the way women perceive menopausal symptoms but these factors have not been adequately studied in our locality. The aim of this study was to identify clinical, psychological, social and demographic factors that predict menopausal symptoms severity among women in Ilorin, Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty-five women between the ages 40 and 55years who had been amenorrheic naturally for at least 12 months were randomly interviewed with standardized questionnaires containing, socio-demographic data, medical history, gynaecological history and psychosocial evaluation. Their menopause symptom severity was assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Correlation between MRS scores and numeric variables were tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficients while chi square statistics was used to test association between categorical variables and severe menopause. Regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors. Joint pain was the most severe symptom perceived followed by low libido and hot flushes. The mean total MRS Score was 14.02 showing a generally mild perception. While 15.1% were categorized as “asymptomatic”, 40% had severe symptoms while the others had mild to moderate symptoms. Menopause severity was strongly associated positively with age, negatively with psychosocial factors such as childhood experience, family support, societal support, health care, food, transportation among others. Socio-economic status, educational status and presence of co-morbid conditions like diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure as well as use of contraceptives also had significant impact. However, the only independent predictors were old age and lack of social support Keywords:     Menopausal symptoms, Women, Predictors, Severity, Nigeri

Knowledge, Attitude and Uptake of Pap Smear among Female Healthcare Professionals in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Despite the high prevalence of cervical cancer (CC) in Nigeria, the uptake of screening services, including Pap smear, remains poor, even amongst healthcare providers. Objective: To assess Pap smear knowledge, attitude, and uptake among female healthcare professionals (FHPs). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Kwara State, Nigeria, using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A majority (343, 98.6%) of the FHPs knew Pap smear. Five (26.3%) medical laboratory scientists did not know what a Pap smear was. All the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists and medical social workers knew Pap smear. Only a fifth (71; 20.4%) of the FHPs had ever done a Pap smear. The most common reason cited for not having done a Pap smear was lack of time (109; 31.3%). There was a relationship between age and uptake of Pap smear (p = 0.024). Only 188 (54%) of the FHPs had ever recommended Pap smear to other women. Conclusion: Despite the high level of knowledge of Pap smear amongst FHPs in Nigeria, attitude and uptake remain poor. There is a need for further training and education of FHPs on the benefits of CC screening to increase their uptake and improve their effectiveness in promoting positive attitudes towards CC screening and prevention in the general population

Antiretroviral treatment among students of tertiary institutions in Ilorin; Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice

No Abstract.Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 53 (6) 2008: pp. 94-9