Oral health status of pregnant women in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Oral diseases have been shown to negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, yet, routine oral health care is not a component of the antenatal care package in Nigeria. This study was designed to describe the pattern of the oral conditions in pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant controls. Two hundred and twenty-five pregnant women and 166 non-pregnant controls were studied from two healthcare facilities in Ilorin. Oral-related complaints were assessed in the pregnant population while both of the groups had an oral cavity examination. The mean age of the respondents was 28.24 years ±4.77 and 80% had at least a secondary school level of education. The prevalence of oral complaints among the pregnant women was 19.1%. Gingivitis was more common among the pregnant women than the non-pregnant women, and more demonstrable on examination. Oral healthcare should be a component of the antenatal care in our environment. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Women experience oral disorders in pregnancy, which may be worsened by the physiological changes in pregnancy. What do the results of this study add? This study has demonstrated a higher prevalence of gingivitis in the pregnant women than in the non-pregnant women on oral examination. The signs of gingivitis were higher than its related complaints. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Therefore, dental care and an examination should be part of a routine antenatal care package to prevent the unwanted pregnancy outcomes that are related to oral disorders.

Evaluation of parturient perception and aversion before and after primary cesarean delivery in a low-resource country.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the perception of and aversion to cesarean delivery (CD) and their determinants before and after primary CD. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional survey of pregnant women undergoing primary CD (elective or emergency) was conducted in six health facilities in Ilorin, Nigeria. All participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire before the operation and 3-4days thereafter. The statistical analysis included the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and a logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 254 participants, 182 (71.7%) and 53 (20.9%) had an aversion to CD before and after the procedure, respectively. A woman's personal decision was the overriding factor influencing acceptance of the operation. Preoperative predictors of aversion were prenatal admission (OR 2.86 [95% CI,1.07-7.66]; P=0.030) and a history of previous surgery (OR 0.42 [95% CI, 0.24-0.75]; P=0.003), whereas postoperatively a low number of prenatal clinic visits (less than four; OR 3.05 [95% CI,1.63-5.69]; P=0.001) and a history of previous surgery (OR 0.51 [95% CI, 0.27-0.96]; P=0.034) were significant. Postprocedure, 164 (64.6%) women said they would accept a repeat CD. CONCLUSION: Patient education, prenatal care, and previous surgical experiences were important in determining women's perception of and aversion to CD.

Contribution of Corneal Blindness to Visual Disability among Street Blind beggars in a Local Government Area of a State in Northern Nigeria

Aim: To determine the contribution of corneal blindness to visual disability among Blind Street Beggars (bsb) with a view to draw the implications to blindness prevention programme in Sokoto North Local government area (LGA) . Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Sokoto North Local LGA in Sokoto State. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks between May and June; 2009. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Committee of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The list of blind persons in these areas was obtained from the traditional head of the blind (Sarkin Makafi) who assisted in mobilizing the subjects. Blind subjects who consented were included in the study. Data obtained were entered and analyzed in form of frequency tables using Epi-info 2000 statistical software package . Results: A total of 202 of the registered persons were found to be blind on ophthalmic examination and were therefore included in the analysis. There were 107 (53) males and 95 (47) females with a mean age of 49 years. One hundred and sixty four (81.2) blind beggars became blind during childhood period while 38 subjects (18.8) became blind during adulthood. Trachoma corneal opacity was responsible for 12.8 of the blindness while other corneal opacity accounted for 60.8. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had preventable blindness. We recommend a comprehensive eye care programme with a strong emphasis on health education and prompt treatment of these causes as a means of reducing the population of street blind beggars in Sokoto North LGA

Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in North-Central Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent during pregnancy and may have adverse sequalae in both mother and fetus. Interactions between these infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) synergize and may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and reverse the gains of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of candidiasis; trichomoniasis; gonococcal infection; syphilis; and bacterial vaginosis in HIV pregnant women and compare with HIV negative controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted during the period from April to December 2010 at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and three Primary Health Centers in Ilorin. A total of 160 HIV positive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were recruited; along with the same number of HIV negative matched controls. A structured proforma was used to collect information from patients; vaginal examination was performed and samples were taken from the endocervix and the posterior vaginal fornix with swab sticks. Results: STIs were recovered from 142 women; giving overall prevalence of 44.4. HIV infected women had a higher prevalence (60) compared to uninfected (28.8). The most prevalent STI was vaginal candidiasis (29.1); followed by bacterial vaginosis (9.7); and trichomoniasis (5.6). The prevalence of candidiasis; bacterial vaginosis; and trichomoniasis was higher among HIV positive pregnant women compared to HIV negative controls (P 0.05). No woman had syphilis or gonorrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of candidiasis; bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis was higher in HIV infected pregnant women compared to uninfected. Routine screening of HIV infected pregnant women for these organisms is advocated

Duration of labor with spontaneous onset at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Duration of labor varies from one pregnancy to another and a period of less than 12 hours is regarded as normal. Modern obstetric practice involves active management of labor with the aim of preventing prolonged labor and its sequelae. The main objective of this study was to determine and compare the average duration of labor of spontaneous onset between nulliparas (Po) and multiparas (P ≥ 1) and to determine factors affecting duration of labor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective study carried out between 15 May and 14 June 2004 at the Labor Ward of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Two hundred and thirty-eight women who satisfied the inclusion criteria were studied. The inclusion criteria were term pregnancy with vertex presentation, labor with spontaneous onset, live fetus at presentation and spontaneous vertex delivery. RESULTS: The mean ± SD admission-delivery interval in labor ward was shorter (3.77 ± 2.88 hours) among multiparas than that of nulliparas (5.00 ± 3.17 hours) (P = 0.235). The mean ± SD duration of labor (from the onset of labor to delivery) was shorter among multiparas (8.73 ± 4.17 hours) than that of nulliparas (11.23 ± 4.29 hours) (P = 0.426). The differences were not significant (t-test, P > 0.05). Maternal age and individual parity had significant correlation with the duration of labor in this study (Pearson correlation = -0.019, -0.027, respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Interestingly, duration of labor was not significantly different among multiparas and nulliparas although it was shorter. Correlation existed between duration of labor and maternal age and individual parity.