The efficacy of two doses versus 7 days' course of prophylactic antibiotics following cesarean section: An experience from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Postcesarean wound infection is a leading cause of prolonged hospital stay. Considerable debates still exist regarding choice of antibiotics, dose, and duration of use. Objectives: The objective is to compare the efficacy of 2 doses of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid versus a 7 days combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and metronidazole as prophylactic antibiotics following cesarean section (CS). Methodology: It was a randomized controlled trial that was conducted among 160 women undergoing CS at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Women were randomized into two groups. Group I (study group) received 2 doses of 1.2 g amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Group II (control group) received a 7 days course of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and metronidazole. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Categorical (qualitative) variables were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test as appropriate while continuous (quantitative) variables were analyzed using independent sample t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no statistically significant association in the occurrence of fever (12.8% vs. 15.8%, P = 0.6), wound infection (6.4% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.36), endometritis (7.7% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.38), UTI (6.4% vs. 5.3%, P = 1.00), mean duration of hospital stay (129.7 vs. 134.2 h, P = 0.48), and neonatal outcomes between the two groups. There was statistically significant difference in the mean cost of antibiotics (₦2883/US$9.5 vs. ₦7040/US$23.1, P < 0.001) and maternal side effects (10.3% vs. 26.3%, P < 0.001) between the study and the control groups, respectively. Conclusion: This study found no statistically significant difference in infectious morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and neonatal outcomes when two doses of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was compared with a 7 days course of prophylactic antibiotic following CS. The use of two doses of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid has the advantages of reduced cost and some maternal side effects. The two doses were cheaper with minimal side effects

A three-year review of caesarean delivery at a secondary health facility in north-western Nigeria

Background: Caesarean section is today one of the commonest surgical operations performed on women. The increased refinement in anaesthetics and surgical skills has reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with the procedures. Most of the studies on caesarean rates in Nigeria are from tertiary centres in the main cities. They may not reflect the situation in secondary facilities in rural and sub-urban areas which do not have the adequate number of staff, equipment and logistic support. Objectives: To determine the rates of caesarean section, indications and outcome in the general hospital located in Dutse, Jigawa, North-Western Nigeria. Methods: It was a retrospective review of records of women that had caesarean delivery between January 2013 and December 2015. Socio-demographic and obstetric information were extracted and analysed using SPSS statistical software. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from the state ministry of health research ethics committee. Results: There were a total of 9,362 deliveries of which 543 were caesarean births giving a caesarean section rate of 5.8%. Majority of the procedures were emergency (90%). More than half of the women had prolonged obstructed labour as the indication. Mean age (±SD) of the women was 25.5 ±7.21 years. There were 69 stillbirths and 4 maternal deaths. The main complication was wound breakdown seen among 9.8% of patients. Conclusion: The rate of caesarean section was lower compared to other secondary and tertiary facilities in Nigeria. Nine out of every 10 caesarean sections were emergency and were associated with high perinatal and maternal morbidity

Age at menarche and its association with overweight/obesity among adolescents in Kano

Background: There was a dramatic decline of adolescents' menarcheal age worldwide; Africa is witnessing a secular trend of this reducing menarcheal age among its black adolescents. A transition of overweight/obesity among adolescent is believed to be associated with reduced menarcheal age. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among female adolescent girls from January to December, 2016. Ethical approval was obtained from the management concerned. All consenting adolescents were recruited for the survey. Information was recorded on a structured, pretested questionnaire. Their respective weight and height were also measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula: BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2). The data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., SPSS Statistics for Windows, Chicago, IL, USA). Fishers' exact test was used, and the P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and nineteen female adolescents participated in the survey. The mean age ± SD at menarche was 12.83 ± 1.312 years. The median and modal ages were both 13 years. There was no statistically significant association between the mean age at menarche and the ethnic groups (P(Fishers') = 0.150). However, mean age at menarche was statistically associated with their BMI (P(Fishers') = 0.00). Obesity was associated with reduced menarcheal age. Conclusion: The median and mean ages at menarche were 13.0 and 12.8 years respectively, which were in accordance with secular trend of reduced menarcheal age among black adolescents. Our study also showed an inverse association between the age at menarche and overweight or obesity among adolescents