Atherogenic and cardiovascular risks of women on combined oral contraceptives: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Although combined oral contraceptive (COC) is commonly used in sub-Saharan Africa, data on its cardiovascular disease risk remains scanty. The study aimed to determine serial serum lipid profiles and cardiovascular disease risks among COC-users. METHODS: This is a prospective, comparative multicentered study conducted at four health facilities in Nigeria. Participants were new users of contraceptives; 120 each of women initiating COCs (group I) and those initiating other forms of nonhormonal contraceptives (group II) were recruited and monitored over a 6-month period. Serial lipid profile, blood pressure, and atherogenic risk for cardiovascular diseases were measured at recruitment (start) and scheduled follow-up clinic visits at 3 months and 6 months for all participants. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 21.0) and P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In all, 225 participants (111 COC-users, 114 nonCOC-users) that completed the study were aged 18 to 49 years. There was a statistically significant increase in the diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.001), Low Density Lipoprotein- Cholesterol (P = 0.038) and higher atherogenic risk (P = 0.001) among COC-users compared to nonCOC-users. The serial total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, High Density Lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index were higher among COC-users but were not statistically significant compared to nonCOC-users. CONCLUSION: Alterations in lipid profile and increased short-term atherogenic risk for cardiovascular disease were reported among the COC-users in this study. Serial lipid profile and atherogenic risk assessment for cardiovascular diseases are recommended for monitoring of COC-users.

Acute Oxygen Therapy on Hospital Wards in Low Middle-Income Country: Experience from a Referral Centre in Ilorin, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Oxygen is like any other medication that can cause severe consequences if administered inappropriately. OBJECTIVE: To audit the pattern of acute oxygen therapy on regular hospital wards of a referral centre in Ilorin, Nigeria. METHODS: We reviewed 150 patients that received or had a prescription for acute oxygen therapy in three months and extracted relevant information using a proforma. RESULTS: About one-third of the patients (30%) were >65 years of age and the male to female ratio was 1:1. The commonest indication and medical condition for acute oxygen administration were hypoxemia (70.7%) and pneumonia (26.0%), respectively. Pneumonia accounted for most (41.2 %) of the oxygen therapy in childhood. The majority of patients (88.0%) had written order for oxygen prescription, 40.7% had a prescription to target oxygen saturation and only 31.3% achieved their target saturation. Oxygen prescription was adequate (documentation of delivery device, flow rate of oxygen, and target oxygen saturations) in 40.7% of patients. The assessment, monitoring and titration of oxygen therapy were adequate in 92.7%, 65.3% and 28 % of patients respectively. Overall mortality was 27.3% in patients receiving acute oxygen supplementation. Eleven patients had unstable COPD, and 63.6 %, 54.5 % and 45.6 % of them had adequate oxygen prescription, monitoring and titration respectively. The challenges to oxygen use were faulty delivery devices, emptied oxygen cylinders, inability to routinely do arterial blood gas analysis and lack of hospital oxygen protocol. CONCLUSION: The current practice of acute oxygen therapy is not satisfactory and interventions are advocated to improve the healthcare providers' administration of oxygen.

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue (stroma and functional glands) outside the uterine cavity in women of reproductive age. Ectopic sites are frequently located in the pelvis; extrapelvic sites have been reported in the gastrointestinal tract and thoracic cavity. Thoracic manifestation of endometriosis constitutes thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES). OBJECTIVES: To examine the presentation pattern and outcome of in the management of TES. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with endometriosis at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a 3.5-year period from January 2014 to June 2017. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients presented with endometriosis, of whom 8 (38.1%) presented with TES. The most common variety of TES was catamenial pleural effusion (CPE) accounting for 75%, followed by catamenial chest pain (37.5%). Two patients (25%) each presented with catamenial pneumothorax and catamenial haemoptysis, while 1 (12.5%) had catamenial surgical emphysema. Closed thoracostomy tube drainage plus chemical pleurodesis was the most frequent intervention technique, accounting for 62.5%. CONCLUSION: TES remains an uncommon entity, despite being the most common extrapelvic manifestation of endometriosis. CPE appeared to be the most common variant of TES in our environment. Currently available treatment options need to be improved, and more use made of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Female genital mutilation/cutting: Knowledge, practice and experiences of secondary schoolteachers in North Central Nigeria

Background. Despite global efforts at eradicating female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), the act continues to be performed globally. Objective. To determine the experience of schoolteachers about FGM/C and their possible role in contributing to its eradication. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional survey involving secondary schoolteachers from 18 secondary schools in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, was undertaken during October and November 2014. All consenting participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on FGM/C. Statistical analysis was with SPSS version 20.0 with χ2 and logistic regression; a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results. There were 371 participants (113 males (30.5%) and 258 females (69.5%)). More females than males were aware of FGM/C (205 v. 94; χ2 41.2; p=0.001); 180 women (69.8%) and 81 men (71.7%) wanted awareness and the implications of FGM/C to be taught in schools, while 46 women (17.8%) and 23 men (20.4%) had previously educated students about FGM/C. Also, 109 (42.3%) of the female teachers had been mutilated (mean (standard deviation) age 4.76 (4.86) years), and 49 mutilations (45.0%) had been performed by traditional circumcisers. Of the teachers, 44.0% of men and 24.5% of women had subjected their daughters to FGM/C (p=0.029), mostly for religious reasons. The men initiated the majority of their daughters' mutilations, while the mothers-in-law were the main initiators among the women; 44 (17.0%) women and 23 (20.4%) men held the opinion that females should be circumcised, while the majority considered education and legislation to be the most important interventions to encourage its eradication. Predictors of the likelihood to support discontinuation of FGM/C include awareness of government policy about FGM/C and having a mutilated daughter. Conclusion. Education, reorientation and motivation of teachers will position them as agents for eradicating FGM/C

Grandmultiparity: evaluating obstetric and neonatal outcomes after eliminating confounders.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate obstetric and neonatal outcomes in booked grandmultiparas (para e"5) and compare with outcome in age and social status matched booked multiparas (para 2-4) after eliminating confounders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort study with grandmultiparas (subjects) and age and social status matched multiparas as controls. All participants were counseled and an informed consent obtained at the antenatal clinic. Maternal demography and history were taken; they were subsequently monitored during pregnancy, labour and immediate puerperium. The main outcome measures were obstetric and neonatal outcomes among subjects and controls. RESULTS: The incidence of grandmultiparity was 4.1%. During antenatal period, grandmultiparas had statistically significantly higher occurrence of late antenatal booking (P=0.0202), anaemia (P=0.0024) and past history of poor perinatal outcome (P=0.0124). Grandmultiparas had statistically significant occurrence of preterm delivery (P=0.0389) and higher but not statistically significant mean duration of labour (P=0.3532), intrapartum complications (P=0.2014) and postpartum haemorrhage (P=0.2126). Neonates of grandmultiparas had statistically significant low first minute Apgar scores (P=0.0011) with higher but not statistically significant occurrence of low birth weight (P=0.1613) and neonatal intensive care admission (P=0.7202). The perinatal mortality rates were 136 and 75 per 1 000 deliveries for grandmultiparas and multiparas. There were no maternal deaths during the study period. CONCLUSION: After controlling for age and social class, booked grandmultiparas had poorer obstetric and neonatal outcome compared to booked multiparas but these were majorly statistically insignificant due to effect of modern antenatal care.

UMBILICAL CORD PARAMETERS IN ILORIN: CORRELATES AND FOETAL OUTCOME.

BACKGROUND: The anthropometric parameters of the umbilical cord have clinical significance. Current parameters of the cord, its correlates and related foetal outcome are lacking in our parturients. OBJECTIVES: To describe the anthropometric parameters and abnormalities of the umbilical cord; and determine their maternal correlates and foetal outcome. DESIGN: A cross sectional analytical study. SETTING: The Obstetric and Gynaecology Department of the Universityof Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between September 2012 and June 2013. SUBJECTS: Healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-eight (428) singleton deliveries were studied. The respective mean values of the cord length and width were 526.87 ± 115.5mm and 19.56 ± 11.12mm.Short cord (< 40cm) occurred in 7.2% while long cord (> 69cm) was found in 9.3% of the parturient. The incidences of single umbilical artery, cord round the body and knots were 7%, 8.4% and 14.5% respectively. Nuchal cord was the most common (91.4%). Only gestational age had significant statistical relationship with cord length abnormalities (P = 0.0093). The cord length was an important correlate of cord helices, knots and vessels (P < 0.05).Parity had correlations with the number of vessels (R = 0.099, P = 0.042). The cord coiling index was statistically related to the presence of congenital abnormalities (P = 0.011). Other perinatal events were not related to umbilical cord parameters. Perinatal asphyxia was the most common indication for NICU admission (3.5%) but there was no significant statistical difference between NICU admission and cord parameters. CONCLUSION: The umbilical cord parameters in apparently healthy parturients in Ilorin were comparable with others elsewhere. The cord length and helix are important correlates of gestational age and congenital abnormalities. Parity may be related to abnormal umbilical vessels. Cord length, coils, coil index and umbilical vessels should be examined post-natally.

Umbilical cord parameters in Ilorin: correlates and foetal outcome

Background: The anthropometric parameters of the umbilical cord have clinical significance. Current parameters of the cord, its correlates and related foetal outcome are lacking in our parturients. Objectives: To describe the anthropometric parameters and abnormalities of the umbilical cord; and determine their maternal correlates and foetal outcome. Design: A cross sectional analytical study. Setting: The Obstetric and Gynaecology Department of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between September 2012 and June 2013. Subjects: Healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. Results: Four hundred and twenty- eight (428) singleton deliveries were studied. The respective mean values of the cord length and width were 526.87±115.5mm and 19.56±11.12mm. Short cord (< 40cm) occurred in 7.2% while long cord (> 69cm) was found in 9.3% of the parturient. The incidences of single umbilical artery, cord round the body and knots were 7%, 8.4% and 14.5% respectively. Nuchal cord was the most common (91.4%). Only gestational age had significant statistical relationship with cord length abnormalities (P = 0.0093). The cord length was an important correlate of cord helices, knots and vessels (P< 0.05).Parity had correlations with the number of vessels(R= 0.099, P=0.042). The cord coiling index was statistically related to the presence of congenital abnormalities (P=0.011). Other perinatal events were not related to umbilical cord parameters. Perinatal asphyxia was the most common indication for NICU admission (3.5%) but there was no significant statistical difference between NICU admission and cord parameters. Conclusion: The umbilical cord parameters in apparently healthy parturients in Ilorin were comparable with others elsewhere. The cord length and helix are important correlates of gestational age and congenital abnormalities. Parity may be related to abnormal umbilical vessels. Cord length, coils, coil index and umbilical vessels should be examined post-natally