A decennial cross-sectional review of assisted reproductive technology in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends that Assisted Reproductive Technology be complementary to other ethically acceptable solutions to infertility. Whereas fertility centres are increasing in number in urban regions of Africa, published reports of their performance are sparse. We present a 10-year review of assisted reproductive technology performed in a public tertiary centre in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a hospital-based, retrospective, cross-sectional review of 604 women, over a 10-year period that had in-vitro fertilization or in-vitro fertilization with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection at the Institute of Fertility Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Data obtained were expressed in descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation was used to determine the strength of linear relationship between two continuous variables at a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was of 37.7 ± 6.2 years and 89.7% had no previous parous experience. About 27.2% of the male partners had normal seminal fluid parameters while 4.6% had azoospermia. Median serum follicle stimulating hormone of the women was 8.1 IU/L and median serum anti-mullerian hormone was 6.3 pmol/L. There was weak positive correlation between age and serum follicle stimulating hormone (r = 0.306, p < 0.001); weak negative correlation between age and serum anti-mullerian hormone (r = -0.48, p < 0.001) and very weak correlation between body mass index and serum follicle stimulating hormone (r = 0.173, p = 0.011). In-vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection was the method of fertilization used in 97.4% of the cases and 81.8% of embryos formed were of good quality. Most women (94.5%) had 2 embryos transferred and 89.9% had day-5 embryo transfer done. About 1 in 4 of the women (143/604, 23.7%) had clinical pregnancy and 49.7% of women who got pregnant had delivery of a live baby at term while 11.9% had preterm delivery of a live baby. CONCLUSION: Despite increasing use and success of assisted reproductive technology in south-western Nigeria, there is room for improvement in clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates post- assisted reproductive technology. Complication rates are desirably low.

Patients' Perception of the Quality of Gynecological Services in a Tertiary Public Health Facility in Lagos, Nigeria.

To facilitate improvements in health service delivery, patients' satisfaction with gynecological services was assessed at a tertiary hospital. Five hundred gynecological care-seekers who presented for outpatient consultation, inpatient care, or theatre procedures had face-to-face interviews using close-ended questionnaires. The assessment encompassed hospital ambience, healthcare providers' attitude, waiting time, duration of consultation among others. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed with SPSS 22.0 software. Mean age was 37.8 ± 10.9 years; 319(63.8%) had tertiary education; 81(16.2%) and 82(16.4%) had inpatient and theatre care, respectively; 233(46.6%) were managed for infertility. One in five respondents reported delayed retrieval of medical records (20.8%), dissatisfaction with hospital meals (22.2%) and 31.6% were displeased with waiting time. Overall, 92.7%, 74.2%, and 66.7% of participants reported high levels of satisfaction with theatre, outpatient, and inpatient care, respectively. Age and education were significantly associated with outpatient satisfaction level (P = .015; P < .001 respectively). Though the majority expressed satisfaction with the quality of care, outpatients' waiting time was considered lengthy. We recommend a detailed appraisal of outpatient routines and periodic evaluation of gynecological services.

Early pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and perinatal outcome in an obstetric population in Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: the burden of overweight and obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide with significant health and social consequences. We determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity, pattern of gestational weight gain (GWG) and the associations of these with perinatal outcome among pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: this was a retrospective review of case records of all deliveries in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) over a period of two years. Case records of women with singleton pregnancies who registered for antenatal care at or below 20 weeks gestation were retrieved and reviewed to extract information on demography, anthropometrics, composites of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. World Health Organization classification of BMI and the United States Institute of Medicine categorization of GWG were used to stratify subjects. RESULTS: out of 4,512 deliveries, 365 (8.1%) met our criteria. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in early pregnancy was 34.6% and 25.6% respectively while 2.9% were underweight. Thirty-seven (11.1%) pregnant women gained more than the recommended weight while 77.8% of underweight pregnant women gained less than the recommended weight. Following multiple logistic regression analysis, obesity in early pregnancy was significantly related to hypertensive pregnancy disorder (AOR 2.2; 95% CI, 1.08-4.32, p = 0.030), gestational diabetes mellitus (AOR 14.4; 95% CI, 4.85-42.6, p = < 0.001), caesarean section (AOR 2.7; 95% CI, 1.51-4.87, p = 0.001) and infections (AOR 4.9; 95% CI, 1.93-12.62, p = 0.001) while excessive GWG was significantly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (AOR 4.8; 95% CI, 1.63-14.12, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: prevalence of early pregnancy overweight, obesity and excessive GWG were high among pregnant women in Nigeria and were associated with significant adverse consequences.

Complicated unsafe abortion in a Nigerian teaching hospital: pattern of morbidity and mortality.

Addressing unsafe abortion in developing countries may propel a rapid decline in overall maternal death. A retrospective review of patients with complicated unsafe abortion was conducted in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital. In order to provide evidence that may inform policy changes, we describe patients' clinical profiles, abortion providers, and morbidity and mortality patterns. Of 3122 gynaecological admissions, 231 (7.4%) had unsafe abortion-related complications. The majority (53.2%) of admissions were between 16 and 25 years. Single women constituted 51% while 57% were nulliparous. Common presentations were abdominal pain (62%), fever (54%) and vaginal bleeding (53%). The most frequent complications were anaemia (55%) and retained products of conception (47%). Doctors reportedly performed 42% of abortions. There were 392 maternal mortalities; 39 (9.9%) from unsafe abortions and sepsis was responsible in 31 (80%) patients. Abortion remains a major public health issue. Youths are mostly involved. Doctors were reportedly the highest abortion providers. Mortality is high, occurring mostly from sepsis. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Doctors are reported as being involved in a high proportion of unsafe abortions in low and middle income countries where abortion remains a significant contributor to maternal mortality and morbidity. What the results of this study add? Our study agrees with existing literature that doctors reportedly performed most of the unsafe abortions. It also found that doctors were reported as abortion providers in the majority (35.9%) of those unsafe abortions that ended in mortality. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? There is a need to conduct studies that will verify the status of abortion providers rather than rely on clients' report; and also inspect facilities to confirm adherence to minimum medical standards. Such research findings will be needed prior to local and possibly national healthcare interventions and policy changes.

Uterine artery ligation for the treatment of fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of bilateral uterine artery ligation in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. DESIGN: A descriptive study. SETTING: Tertiary care gynecological clinic, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. SAMPLE: Fifty women who had trans-vaginal bilateral uterine artery ligation for the treatment of uterine fibroids between January 2003 and January 2006. METHODS: Pre-operative baseline ultrasonic measurements of uterine and dominant fibroid volumes were carried out and repeated at two, six, and 12 weeks, then three monthly for a period of three years. Severity of menstrual blood loss, changes in pain symptoms and patients' satisfaction were also assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in uterine and fibroid volumes, hemoglobin values, menstrual pain ratings, and patients' satisfaction ratings. RESULTS: The mean fibroid volume, mean uterine volume, and mean menstrual pain rating showed statistically significant reductions at six, 12, and 36 months. The mean hemoglobin level and patients' satisfaction rating showed a statistically significant increase after six, 12, and 36 months. CONCLUSION: Trans-vaginal bilateral uterine artery ligation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids especially in areas where access to high level medical technology is restricted.