ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] seroconversion in pregnancy for effective prevention of its mother to child transmission
Design: Longitudinal study
Setting: Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa, Nigeria
Subjects: One hundred and sixty pregnant mothers who booked for prenatal care within the first 20 weeks of gestation and were negative to HIV testing at the booking visit were recruited, followed up and retested for HIV seropositivity on delivery at term. Data was collected from 1st September 2015 to 31st May 2016
Intervention: Prenatal counselling on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
Main outcome measure: The incidence of HIV seroconversion on delivery at term
Results: There was no HIV seropositivity at term, there was zero seroconversion in this data. The mean age of the respondents was 30.2 +/- 4.5 years and ranged from 19 - 43 years. Over 92% of the participants attained secondary level of education or above, about the same proportion [95%] was married and 29% was unemployed. There was a low level of HIV-related risk behaviours among the participants
Conclusion: The zero prenatal HIV seroconversion in this study indicates significant progress in intervention programs against HIV transmission in Nigeria. The findings set the stage for sustained efforts in every part of the country.Periodic nationwide studies are recommended
ABSTRACT
Background: Contraception is a key measure at the primary level of prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity. It is an important tool for pregnancy spacing, limiting and timing for prevention of adverse perinatal and maternal health outcomes. Objective: contraceptive practice as a means of preventing unintended pregnancy was assessed among Nigerian women attending prenatal care. The findings were to contribute in defining the current contraceptive practices in the country, proffer suggestions for reproductive health planning and services. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 701 prenatal clinic attendees at a missionary Hospital in Benin-city, Nigeria. Structured pretested questionnaire was administered to each consenting client. Database was raised on relevant information and analyzed, setting the level of statistical significance at p-value <.05 Results: Approximately 89% of the respondents demonstrated awareness of modern contraception, about 66% ever used a modern contraception and only a minority 24.1% was using it just prior to the index pregnancy. Leading sources of information were mass media, friends/peers, school and hospital in that order. The most used methods were male condom (54.8%) and pill (21.8%). About three fifths (56.2%) of the respondents have had at least a premarital termination of unintended pregnancy. More than 71% of previous users and approximately 42% of nonusers were willing to uptake a method of modern contraception in postpartum. Women empowerment; education, quality employment and social class significantly influenced contraception use (P<.05). Key barriers to use of modern contraception were fear of unpleasant side effects, socio-cultural and religious concerns. Conclusion: There was a wide gap between contraceptive awareness and utilization, a large unmet need of contraception among the prenatal attendees. A renewed concerted contraceptive campaign is advised.
ABSTRACT
Globally it is estimated that 26-53 million induced abortions occur annually. An estimated 20 million of these are unsafe especially in countries with restrictive abortion laws. Approximately 48% of all abortions worldwide were unsafe and more than 97% of these are in developing countries. Our objective was to find out complications of illegal induced abortions in a tertiary care institution. All cases of complicated induced abortion, seen over a 5 year period were reviewed. Relevant data relating to the socio-demographic profile of the patients, clinical presentation, abortion service providers and facilities and mode of termination of pregnancy were extracted. One hundred and nineteen patients, constituting 3.4% of gynaecological admissions were studied. The mean age of the patients was 23.5 +/- 6.6 years with over 80% single. The mean gestational age at abortion was 12.8 +/- 4.1 weeks. Incomplete abortion and postabortal sepsis formed the major indication for admission. About a fifth of the cases had abdominal visceral involvement. Twenty [18%] had laparotomy and 10[9%] had renal dialysis. Over 75% of patients were discharged in stable state. This study highlights the pressing need for an organised program for reproductive health education especially for the adolescents and unmarried who were most affected by abortion complications. In addition training and continuing medical education for doctors favourably disposed to abortion services is highly indicated from this study