The impact of pre-menarcheal training on menstrual practices and hygiene of Nigerian school girls

BACKGROUND: The menstrual practices of adolescents derive largely from health issues associated with their adjustment to reproductive life. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of pre-menarcheal training on the menstrual and hygiene practices of Nigerian school girls . METHODs: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of randomly selected post-menarcheal school girls using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was done. RESULTS: The mean age of the school girls was 14.9 years (+ or - 1.7 years). Pre-menarcheal training was given to 273 (55.2%) of them. Mothers (74.7%) were the more common source of information. Inappropriate experience of menarche, adverse effect of menstruation on schooling and social life and the use of unhygienic menstrual absorbents were common in girls who had no pre-menarcheal training than those who did. CONCLUSION: Lack of timely information results in inappropriate menstrual experiences and poor menstrual hygiene practices. Ways to promote menstrual education and hygiene practices are suggested

Effects of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness on Pregnancy Outcome in Nigeria

Background: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR), a component of focused antenatal care, has a great potential to reducing maternal and newborn deaths in low‑income countries. However, the success of this strategy is not well known in most of sub‑Saharan Africa, and the effectiveness of the strategy has not been widely studied. Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the effects of BPCR on pregnancy outcome. Materials and Methods: This was an observational cohort study of eligible consecutive pregnant women presenting in labour at a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of labour were compared between women who had a birth plan (n = 115) and a control group without a birth plan (n = 115). Results: The mean age of the parturients was 27.87 ± 5.20 years. Women who had a birth plan were less likely to have postpartum anaemia (P < 0.001), receive blood transfusion (P < 0.001), and have prolonged hospital stay (P = 0.03). Their neonates were at less risk of low birth weight (P = 0.02) and admission into newborn special care unit (P = 0.003). There was no association between BPCR and incidence of Caesarean section (P = 0.65) and maternal satisfaction (P = 0.20). Conclusion: The practice of BPCR in Abakaliki, Nigeria, is associated with some favourable maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study findings indicate the need for more advocacies for adequate implementation of BPCR during pregnancy in Nigeria.&nbsp

Impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in improving operative intervention in the management of cervical cancer in low resource setting: a preliminary report

There is paucity of data on interventions to improve cancer outcome in the low-resource setting. This study aims to determine the effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NACT) in improving operative outcomes of cervical cancer. This was a longitudinal intervention study of patients diagnosed with FIGO stage IIB - IIIA cervical cancer that had NACT. Patients were re-evaluated after treatment with 4 cycles of chemotherapy for operability. McNemar test was used to determine changes in operability of the tumour. There was a significant difference in the number of patients that converted from inoperable to operable tumor post-chemotherapy. This study shows some promise for NACT for FIGO stage IIB - IIIA cancer of the cervix, especially in low-resource settings, where radiotherapy is scarce

Prevalence, outcome, and predictors of placenta migration among pregnant women with placenta praevia in Enugu Nigeria

Background: Placenta praevia is one of the leading causes of obstetric haemorrhages and a major contributor to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although low-lying placentae are common during routine midtrimester anomaly scans, the incidence of placenta praevia at term remains low, probably due to placenta migration. It is important to follow-up pregnant women with low-lying placentae to identify the few whose placenta will remain in the lower segment and hence at risk of major obstetric haemorrhage. Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, predictors, and pregnancy outcome of low-lying placenta diagnosed in the midtrimester. Materials and Methods: The study was a cohort study with longitudinal follow-up of 416 pregnant women from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, and Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital who had an ultrasound diagnosis of low-lying placentae between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of gestation. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of low-lying placenta at 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 weeks of gestation was 51%, 41.3%, 22.3%, 12.7%, and 10.5%, respectively. 87.3% of those with low-lying placenta had normally situated placenta at term. Previous caesarean section and male gender were significant predictors of placenta praevia at delivery (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of low-lying placenta before 20 weeks of gestation, only a few of these placentas remain low-lying at term. Previous caesarean section and male gender were significant predictors of placenta praevia at delivery. This study recommends a routine ultrasound scan in the second or third trimester for placenta localisation

Preoperative versus postoperative misoprostol use for prevention of blood loss during caesarean section in pregnant women at term: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Objective Caesarean section is associated with higher blood loss than vaginal delivery. This study was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of preoperative versus postoperative rectal and sublingual misoprostol use for prevention of blood loss in women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. Methods Eligible patients in Southeast Nigeria were randomly classified into those that received 600 µg of preoperative rectal, postoperative rectal, preoperative sublingual, and postoperative sublingual misoprostol. All patients received 10 units of intravenous oxytocin immediately after delivery. Data were analysed with SPSS Version 23. Results Preoperative sublingual misoprostol use caused the highest postoperative packed cell volume, least change in the packed cell volume, and lowest intraoperative blood loss. Preoperative sublingual and rectal misoprostol use was associated with better haematological indices and maternal outcomes than postoperative use by these routes. However, preoperative sublingual and rectal use caused more maternal side effects than postoperative use by these routes. Conclusion Preoperative sublingual misoprostol was associated with the most favourable haematological indices. Although preoperative sublingual and rectal misoprostol use caused more maternal side effects, these routes were associated with better haematological indices and maternal outcomes than postoperative sublingual and rectal misoprostol use