Time of passage of First Stool in Newborns in a Tertiary Health Facility in Southern Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The first stool passed by the newborn, the meconium, is different from the ordinary stool both in its nature and its implication. Delayed or non-passage of the meconium may represent a number of clinical conditions. In this study, we sought to identify what should be considered delayed passage of meconium in our babies. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the timing of passage of first stool in Nigerian neonates and whether it is influenced by gender, birth weight, maternal age, and parity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A PROFORMA WAS DESIGNED TO OBTAIN THE FOLLOWING DATA: Maternal age, parity, mode of delivery, Apgar score at 1 min, birth weight, gender, and interval between delivery and passage of first stool among normal newborn babies delivered at the obstetrics department of our center in August and September 2010. RESULTS: One hundred babies out of 393 delivered during the period of the study were included in the study. There were 63 (63%) males and 37 (37%) females. The interval between delivery and passage of meconium ranged from 0.5 to 54 h; mean, 16.2 (SD = 10.57). This was not influenced by gender, weight, maternal age, and parity. CONCLUSION: Non-passage of meconium beyond 48 h of life could be considered delayed. We therefore, recommend that clinicians should re-evaluate newborns, for hitherto unrecognized conditions, if after 48 h they have not passed first stool.

Factors determining compliance to routine iron supplementation in pregnancy at the University of Portharcout Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Routine intake of iron supplements during pregnancy improves maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. This is observed in a background of increased availability and compliance to routine antenatal iron supplements. Poor compliance arises not only because of patient behavior but also from factors that may be out of patient's control. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of patients who comply, the level of compliance with the iron prescription given at the antenatal clinic as well as propose interventions aimed at increasing compliance amongst the antenatal population. METHODS: A total of five hundred antenatal clients were recruited randomly (the 3rd of clients presenting to the clinic) during their antenatal visits between 1st May and 30th June, 2009 at the UPTH. Prescriptions for iron supplements and folic acid were given and they were interviewed using a standard structured questionnaire. Women with low or high compliance were asked to explain what influenced their adherence to iron supplementation. RESULTS: Overall compliance in this study was 88.0%. Women who complied fully were of the perception that good blood level and birth weight were beneficial effects of the routine iron supplement. Gastrointestinal side effects and forgetfulness were the main reasons for low compliance.