ABSTRACT
Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of the symphysio-fundal height (SFH) in comparison to the last menstrual period (LMP) for gestational age assessment. Study Design: Hospital-based prospective cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Maternity unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, between December 2012 and April 2013. Methodology: A total of 289 consecutive consenting women with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies at gestational ages of less than or equal to 20 weeks were recruited at the maternity unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital between December 2012 and April 2013. Ultrasound scan (USS) was used to confirm eligibility after which other information including the LMP were documented on a questionnaire. The women returned after 22 weeks’ gestation based on ultrasound recorded GA for SFH assessment and some weeks thereafter for a second SFH assessment. Results: Mean age of the women was 28.9±4.8 years with a range of 16-42 years. Most of them were of parity 1 – 4 (58.1%). The mean GA at booking was 15.3±3.1 weeks based on LMP and 14.9±3.1 from early ultrasound scan. The mean percentage accuracy for SFH method compared to USS dating was 95.8% while that of LMP was 91.0%. This difference was found to be statistically significant (P = .02). Conclusion: The study showed a significant difference between the LMP and early ultrasound scan dating but not between SFH and early ultrasound scan. Also, the mean percentage accuracy was statistically higher for SFH, suggesting that SFH was a more accurate tool for gestational age assessment among these women.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Women are at a higher risk of being sexually harassed. There is a need to document the clinical findings of this crime and its outcome in order to improve the quality of care the victims receive. Materials and Methods: Case notes of patients who presented with alleged rape at Jos University Teaching Hospital between January 2001 and December 2003 were retrieved and analyzed. Results : During the study period; 2;135 patients were seen in the Gynaecological Emergency Unit. A total of 120 were for alleged rape; representing 5.6of the total cases seen. However; only 105 case notes were available for analysis. Of these; 63.8of the alleged rapes were in children; with the infantile age group accounting for 26.7. 36.2of the victims had experienced some form of sexual exposure prior to the rape. A previous relationship with the rapist was established in 77.4of the cases. Most cases delayed in presenting to hospital. Thirty six percent of the cases did not have a human immunodeficiency virus screening test done. Candida albicans (13.3) accounted for most of the infectious agents. Emergency contraception was dministered to the victims when indicated. Conclusion: Women under 16 years of age were at an increased risk of being raped; possibly because they are defenseless and vulnerable. Three quarters (3/4) of the assailants had some form of relationship with the victims; which may account for the delays in reporting. Children and young adolescents were more at risk than adults to be raped
Subject(s)
Case Management , Hospitals , Sex Offenses , Teaching , WomenABSTRACT
Background: HIV/AIDS is a scourge that has seriously compromised the lives of millions of people; especially those living in sub-Saharan Africa. With continued high prevalence; there is a high risk of healthcare workers; especially those in the surgical specialties; acquiring the infection. This study was done to investigate the impact of HIV on the choice of surgical specialties in a training institution located in Jos; north-central Nigeria. We hypothesized that the awareness of the risk of acquiring infections associated with surgical practice has no significant impact on the choice of surgical specialties among final-year medical students and house officers at our institution. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted on final-year medical students and house officers during their training in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); Jos. Two hundred questionnaires were randomly distributed to final year medical students and house officers who volunteered to participate in the survey. The completed questionnaires were returned to the researchers and information obtained was analyzed using Epi info 3.3. Results: Of the 200 questionnaires distributed; 135 with relevant information were returned for analysis; giving a response rate of 67.5. Of these respondents; 96.3said they planned to specialize after their basic medical training and the majority of these (97.8) were aware of the increased risk associated with surgical specialties; with 83.7acknowledging the transmission of HIV and hepatitis B as being the greatest risk. About 53.0of the respondents said they planned to pursue surgical specialties. Fifty three percent (53.3) and sixteen Percent (16.3) based their choice of specialty on job satisfaction and favourable work schedule respectively. The knowledge of the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS affected choice of specialty in only 21of the respondents. Conclusion: The awareness of most recently graduated medical doctors and final-year medical students of the risk of acquiring HIV in surgical specialties seems to have not deterred them from wanting to pursue surgical specialties. We recommend improvements in the work environment and adherence to universal precautions to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other infections to surgeons practicing in the region
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , StudentsABSTRACT
A case of familial polycystic kidney disease is reported. Although isolated cases of adult polycystic kidney disease have been reported in our environment; no case to our knowledge has been reported with a familial link. Polycystic kidney disease is said to be rare in Africans. Although it commonly terminates in chronic renal failure; it hardly features in the aetiopathogenesis of end stage renal disease requiring some form of renal replacement therapy in African series. This; some workers believe may be due to misdiagnosis and under reporting. This report is to show that it may not be as rare as suspected; and that the familial link shown in the advanced countries is also applicable here. Case 1 was diagnosed in the course of evaluation of her clinical disease. Case 2; an aunt of Case 1; was diagnosed following investigation of a casual complaint of a painless abdominal mass in the wake of her senior brother's death from haemorrhagic stroke