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

Serum testosterone concentration in chloroquinetreated rats: effects of ascorbic acid and alphatocopherol

The effects of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) were studied on serum testosterone concentration in chloroquine-treated rats. Thirty five (35) adult male rats weighing 160 - 200 g were divided into seven groups of five (5) rats each. Group I rats served as the control and received 2 ml/kg of normal saline while Group II rats were treated with chloroquine (20 mg/kg). Groups III, IV, V, VI and VII rats were treated with chloroquine (20 mg/kg) and either vitamin C (14.3 or 100 mg/kg) or vitamin E (9.3 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) or the combination of both. The drugs were administered orally for thirty five (35) days and at the end of the treatment, serum testosterone concentrations were determined. Theresults showed that chloroquine did not cause a significant change in serum testosterone concentration. In addition, the administration of the vitamins with chloroquine also did not cause any significant change in serum testosterone concentration when compared with the control. The results suggest that long-term administration of chloroquine could have no effect on testosterone concentration and the vitamins also could not cause any significant change in testosterone concentration in the presence of chloroquine

Age, Weight and Height at Menarche Among School Girls in Zaria

Context: Age at menarche has been trending downwards in most communities and this period often coincides with the onset of coitus and the first pregnancy, especially in Northern NigeriaObjectives: The aim of the study was to determine the current age at menarche of schoolgirls in Zaria and ascertain the biosocial and other factors that may be influencing it.Materials and Methods: Girls from selected schools in Zaria were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire, to ascertain their age at menarche and obtain other socio-demographic information. Their weighta and heights were also measured. The results were analyzed with a computer statistical package and tabulatedResults: Out of the 3,130 girls in the eight schools selected, 148 of them attained menarche in the preceeding three months and they constituted the study group. The age of menarche ranged from 132 to 206 months (11.0 to 17.17 years). The mean menarcheal age ranged from 162.1 months for girls in Social Class I to 178.5 months for those in Class V.Conclusion: Earlier onset of menarche in Nigerian school girls reinforces the need for appropriate family life and sexuality education to minimize the risk of reproductive health problems in these adolescents.Key Words: Menarche, Anthropometric Measurements, Adolescenc

Operative vaginal deliveries in Zaria, Nigeria

Background : Operative vaginal deliveries are frequent features of obstetrics practice in tertiary levels of care even in developing countries. It is essential to review these practices in order to assess their benefits or otherwise to safe motherhood in resource limited settings Study design : Labor records on operative vaginal delivery cases and matched controls who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries between January 1997 and December 2001 at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, were analyzed with respect to mode of delivery, indication for operative vaginal delivery, anesthesia use, fetal 5-min Apgar score, birth weight, fetal, and maternal complications. Results : Of 7,327 deliveries at the center in the study period, 262 (3.6%) were by operative vaginal deliveries. Forceps delivery was most frequently performed (55.7%), while vacuum delivery was found to be in increased use (38.2%). Embryotomy procedures were performed selectively (6.1%). Operative vaginal deliveries were more commonly employed on primigravida (78.6%) compared to multiparas and the most common indication was delayed second stage of labor. Forcep- and vacuum-assisted deliveries were both associated with maternal and newborn complications. There was no significant difference in the use of anesthesia between forceps and vacuum deliveries. Conclusion : Operative vaginal delivery rates in this center are comparable to other centers as are the possible complications. Making these procedures safer will improve safe motherhood in settings where there are performed

Puerperal complications of episiotomies at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

Objectives: To establish the epidemiological variables associated with episiotomies and their puerperal complications at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, in order to institute appropriate management including preventive measures. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Ahmadu cello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Methods: A cohort of all consecutive patients that underwent vaginal deliveries during a 12- week period were followed up for six weeks in order to determine the distribution and determinants of episiotomy and its complications. Results: The episiotomy rate was 35.6% of all vaginal deliveries. Episiotomies were significantly associated with primigravidity being performed in 88.5% of all primigravidae. The mean delivery-repair interval was 60.5 minutes. The most common puerperal complication of episiotomies was perineal pain that lasted an average of 5.5 days. Other complications included asymmetry (32.9%), infection (23.7%), partial dehiscence (14.5%), skin tags (7.9%), haemorrhage (5.3%) and extension of the incision (1.3%). The complications were not significantly associated with any potential risk factor. Conclusion: In view of the very high episiotomy rate among primigravidae, it is recommended that the episiotomy rate among primigravidae be reduced by re-acquainting accoucheurs with the indications for episiotomy. Attention needs to be given to adequate pain relief for all women who have had an episiotomy and the delivery-repair interval in this unit should be reduced by provision of materials for episiotomy repair in the delivery suite. East African Medical Journal Vol.80(7) 2003: 351-35

Retained Copper Sleeve and haematometria, an unusual complication of Copper-T use

Retained copper sleeve of copper-T IUCD and haematometria was observed in a patient. Same was retrieved with drainage of haematometria under general anesthesia with satisfactory outcome

Attitude of Nigerian women to abnormal menstrual bleeding from injectable progestogen-only contraceptive

Background: Depot Medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and Norethisterone Enanthate (Net-En) are frequently used progestogen-only injectable contraceptives in many developing countries including Nigeria. Their use is often complicated by abnormal and unpredictable menstrual bleeding patterns. This has often been a source of worry to clients and their spouses leading to method switch or discontinuation. Method: A structured questionnaire was administered on 354 clients who were on intramuscular DMPA 150mg 3-monthly or intramuscular norethisterone enanthate 200mg 2-monthly and a matched control group of 323 clients at the Reproductive Health Center of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria. Data was analyzed using Minitab statistical software. Results: Abnormal menstrual bleeding, commonly amenorrhea and irregular bleeding, were significantly associated with use of either DMPA or Net-En. Clients tolerated amenorrhea better than irregular bleeding and their preference for either DMPA or Net-En was not altered by amenorrhea. Irregular bleeding was a significant reason for method switch or discontinuation. Conclusion: Treatments that can inflict amenorrhea could be acceptable options in the management of abnormal bleeding patterns induced by progestogen-only injectable contraceptive which are in present use. Keywords: depot-medroxy progesterone acetate, norethisterone enanthate, menstrual abnormalities Annals of African Medicine Vol. 4(4) 2005: 144–14

Platelet function, anthropometric and metabolic variables in Nigerian Type 2 Diabetic patients

This study examined the effects of anthropometric variables and metabolic imbalance on platelet aggregation in diabetic patients. A total of 109 volunteer were used; 58 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients (28 males and 30 females) who were receiving treatment at the University College Hospital Ibadan and 51 non diabetic control recruited from residents of Agbowo and Teachers of some secondary schools within the University of Ibadan. Body mass index (BMI)  and body surface area (BSA) were assessed as indices of anthropometry, fasting blood sugar (FBS), plasma cholesterol and triglycerides (TAG)  were determined using standard method and platelet aggregation test was done on the whole blood. Platelet aggregation ratio was higher in non diabetic compared to the diabetic subjects (P<0.001). The mean platelet aggregation ratio was also significantly higher in the male diabetic when compared to the female diabetic group (P<0.001). There was a significant linear relationship between platelet aggregation ratio and BMI (P<0.01), age (P0.05), FBS (P< 0.01), plasma cholesterol (P<0.01) and plasma TAG (P<0.05). However, the correlation coefficient between platelet aggregation ratio and BSA is not significant. In the non diabetic control subjects the correlation coefficient is not significant. Findings from this study suggest that, the increased platelet aggregation found in diabetic patients increased significantly with increased BMI but decrease with age. The mean platelet aggregation is also increased significantly with increase metabolic imbalance.Keyword: Platelet aggregation, anthropometry, diabetes mellitus, Body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS).African Journal of Biotechnology Vol 13(29) 2985-299

Obsetric outcome in pregnant women subjected to domestic violence

No Abstract