Female genital tract cancers in Sagamu, southwest, Nigeria

Objective: To describe pattern of female genital tract cancers seen at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Nigeria.Design: This is a retrospective review of all cases of female genital tract cancers managed at the Gynaecology department of OOUTH, Sagamu, Nigeria.Setting: OOUTH is a tertiary health institution of the State’s university and it takes referrals from within and outside the State.Subjects: Case records of all female genital tract cancers managed between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrieved and analysed using SPSS version 16.0.Results: There were 2059 women treated for various gynaecologic conditions, 179 (8.7%) were cases of female genital tract cancers and 161 records were available for analysis. Cervical cancer constituted the commonest (51.6%), followed by ovarian (35.4%), endometrial (9.9%), and choriocarcinoma (1.9%). There were no cases of vaginal and fallopian tube cancers. The lowest mean age was found in choriocarcinoma (36.60 ±4.50 years) and highest in vulvar cancer (70.00 ±2.82 years). The mean ages for cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers were (51.98±12.39), (65.38±7.24), and (54.42±10.51) years respectively. Similarly the least mean parity was found in choriocarcinoma (2.33±1.52), and the highest in vulvar cancer (6.00±1.44). The mean parity for cervical, endometrial, and ovarian were (4.10±1.49), (3.06±1.48), and (3.72±1.68) respectively. These differences are statistically significant, age; F= 7.61, p<0.0001, and parity; F= 3.27, p= 0.013.Conclusion: Incidence of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers remain high and presentations are at late stages. There is a need to improve on cervical cancer screening, and for the attending physicians to improve on their indices of suspicions as regards endometrial and ovarian cancers

Attitudes and Acceptance of Nigerians Towards Vasectomy- A Comparison of Married Men and Women in Lagos

Background: Nigeria with a growth rate of 28%, accounts for over two thirds of the West African population. It also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world with contraceptive prevalence among married couples less than 10%. Despite its safety and efficacy vasectomy appears to be unpopular in our environment.Objective: To assess the perception and acceptance of married men and women towards vasectomy and the influence of the spouse on the man’s decision to accept or reject vasectomy.Design: A cross sectional questionnaire based study.Setting: With an estimated population of 20 million, Lagos is the most cosmopolitan and urbanised city in Nigeria and accounts for 65% of all commercial activities in the country. Virtually all the tribes in Nigeria are represented in the city.Subjects: Literate pregnant women recruited from the antenatal clinics and literate new fathers. All subjects were recruited from three health facilities in the Lagos metropolis.Results: Twenty seven point five and twenty one percent of the men and women respectively had a good Knowledge of vasectomy while 49.1% and 19% of all men and women respectively with good knowledge would accept vasectomy (or agree for their spouses to have the procedure). Overall acceptance rates for men and women were 26 and 13.5% respectively while 92% of men who can opt for vasectomy will only do so if their spouses agree. Knowledge about vasectomy was the strongest single factor  influencing the acceptance of vasectomy (p= 0.013) with stronger  correlation among men than women (p=0.005 vrs p=.0.023).Conclusion: Knowledge and acceptance of vasectomy is significantly better in males than female Nigerians living in Lagos

Patterns of Otolaryngologic Sequelae of Suicide Attempts Seen in Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals

Background: Otolaryngologic sequelae of suicide attempts are rarely reported as an entity. In this report, we describe the patterns otolaryngologic sequelae of suicide attempts seen in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Objective: To improve among clinicians, knowledge of the patterns of otolaryngologic sequelae of suicide attempts with a view to promote their management at the three tiers of health care delivery. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of clinical records of survivors of suicide attempts seen in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Results: In all, 52 patients were seen. Of this, 34 were cases of otolaryngologic sequelae. Majority, (56.0%) of the sequelae were corrosive oesophagitis. Other sequelae were: corrosive oropharyngoesophagitis (14.7%), corrosive oropharyngitis (8.8%), and corrosive laryngitis (5.9%), hypertrophy scar on the neck (5.9%), laryngeal stenosis (2.9%), pharyngocutaneous fistula (2.9%) and sudden hearing loss (2.9%). The sudden hearing loss was caused by overdose of diazepam. There was discordance in the prevalence of isolated corrosive oesophagitis and oropharyngitis as noted by the 56.0% vs. 8.8% respectively in a pathologic continuum. Conclusion: Corrosive oesophagitis is the most common otolaryngologic sequelae of suicide attempts accounting for 56.0% of cases in this study. There was discordance in the patterns of corrosive injuries of the oesophagus and oropharynx as noted by the 56.0% and 8.8% prevalence respectively, in a pathologic continuum. This stresses the need to avoid using the clinical state of the oropharynx to gauge the condition of the oesophagus. It also emphasizes the importance of diagnostic endoscopy in all symptomatic cases of corrosive ingestion. The occurrence of sudden hearing loss post-ingestion of diazepam remains enigmatic. We therefore suggest empirical studies on this unique finding using laboratory animals

An Estimate of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Reports show that African men suffer disproportionately from PCa compared to men from other parts of the world. It is still quite difficult to accurately describe the burden of PCa in Africa due to poor cancer registration systems.We systematically reviewed the literature on prostate cancer in Africa and provided a continentwide incidence rate of PCa based on available data in the regio

Bread Making Potential of Composite Flour of Wheat-Acha (Digitaria exilis staph) Enriched with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp) Flour

Bread-making potentials of composite flours containing 90% wheat and 10% acha enriched with 0-15% cowpea flour were investigated. Proximate composition and functional properties of the blends were studied using AOAC standard methods. Bread loaves were prepared from the blends using the straight dough method and evaluated for loaf height, loaf volume, loaf weight and sensory characteristics. Crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and ash contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) with  increase in level of cowpea flour addition, but moisture content was not significantly (p > 0.05) different among the blends. Functional properties, with exception of bulk density and swelling capacity, were significantly (p < 0.05) different among the blends. Average loaf height and loaf volume decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increased cowpea flour but loaf weight showed opposite trend with significant (p < 0.05) differences ascowpea flour increased. However, the addition of cowpea flour significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the loaf specific volume but all enriched samples were not significantly (p > 0.05) different. Bread samples from composited blends were rated lower than bread from all wheat bread. Bread loaves from  enriched composite flour with up to 10% cowpea flour were acceptable to the panelists.Keywords: Bread, acha, protein, enrichment, acceptabilit

An Appraisal of Immunisation in Nigeria: Towards Improving Coverage

Nigeria has achieved modest progress in immunization coverage particularly in the 1980-1990 periods. However, coverage has declined since the achievement of this peak. One factor important in sustainability of coverage is routine immunization and increased awareness toincrease the knowledge of mothers on immunization. Within the country also there’s a wide interstate variation in coverage figures with a generally greater percentage of full immunization Coverage obtained in the southern zones than in the Northern zones. Even though the Nigeria’s universal child immunization coverage is said to have improved in the last two years much is still needed to bring the coverage target to at least 75% throughout the nation for effective control of all Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Targeted “mop-up” campaigns should be intensified for the wild polio virus transmission as found limited to a specific focal area, asfound presently in some northern parts of Nigeria. As for the control of  measles, experience globally also shows that routine immunization together with supplemental measles immunization can reduce measles deaths.Key words: Immunization coverage; appraisal; routine immunization; mop-up campaign

Asymptomatic genital infection among pregnant women in Sagamu, Nigeria.

Background: Untreated genital tract infections in pregnancy may be associated with adverse effects on foetal and maternal health leading to poor pregnancy outcome.Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and microbial isolates associated with asymptomatic genital infectionsin pregnancy.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study on 252 pregnant women attending their first antenatal clinic. Data on socio-demographic characteristics of study participants was recorded. Microbial culture was carried out on High Vaginal and Endocervical swab samples. Statistical analysis was done using IBM-SPSS Windows version 20.Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic genital infection was 44.8%. Multiparity had statistically significant association with increased prevalence of the condition. Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus were the most predominant microbial isolates. Erythromycin and Levofloxacin were the most sensitive antibiotics against the bacterial isolates.Conclusion: This prevalence of asymptomatic genital infectionsis high in pregnant women in Sagamu. It is recommended that routine screening and treatment of these infections should be included in the antenatal clinic services offered to pregnant women so as to prevent the adverse foetal and maternal effects associated with asymptomatic genital infections in pregnancy.Keywords: Genital infection, Pregnancy, Asymptomatic, Sagamu

Incidence of Congenital Malaria at Delivery in Lagos.

To determine the incidence of congenital malaria at delivery in Lagos, Nigeria. Thick smears were prepared from maternal, umbilical cord, placental blood and neonatal blood of five hundred consenting consecutive women at the time of delivery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (LIMH) Lagos, Nigeria during the period-August 2011- February 2012. They were stained with Giemsa stain and examined for malaria parasites. A structured form was used to obtain socio-demographic data. Proportions were compared using the Chi square-test and linear regression analysis was used to determine relationship between variables. The mean maternal age was 28.7±3.2years (range21-40years). There were 151 (30.2%) primigravidae and 349(69.8%) multigravidae. Four hundred and twenty two were booked (84.4%), 78(15.6%) were unbooked, and 484 (96.8%) used malaria chemoprophylaxis. 100(20%) of neonatal blood, 154(30.8%) of maternal blood, 108(21.6%) of cord blood and 126(25.2%) of placental smears were positive for malaria parasites. There was a very high positive correlation between neonatal, maternal, umbilical cord and placental parasitaemia (p<0.05). In view of the high rates of malaria parasitaemia in the neonatal smears observed in this study, we recommend health education, routine smear workup for all neonates with fever and effective malaria chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis in pregnancy in Nigeria.Keywords: Pregnancy, Congenital malaria, umbilical cord, placenta, Plasmodium falciparum