Adesina Oladokun

Correlation of cervical cytology and visual inspection with acetic acid in HIV-positive women.

Summary The prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesion is higher among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women. These lesions when they occur in these patients are also more difficult to treat. A total of 205 consenting HIV-seropositive women were recruited. A cervical cytology (Pap smear) was taken, followed by visual inspection with freshly prepared 5% acetic acid and cervical biopsy taken from the squamocolumnar junction as the reference for diagnosis to avoid verification bias. The sensitivity of VIA was 76.0% (95% CI 52.0 – 91.0); specificity 83.0% (95% CI 77.0 – 88.0); positive predictive value 34.0% (95% CI 21.0 – 49.0). The sensitivity of cervical cytology (Pap smear) was 57.0% (95% CI 34.0 – 77.0), specificity of 95.0% (95% CI 90.0 – 97.0), and positive predictive value of 55.0% (95% CI 33.0 – 75.0). In HIV-seropositive women, the sensitivity of VIA is 76.0%, making it a useful screening test for preinvasive lesion of the cervix in low resource settings.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria among HIV positive pregnant women

The prognostic significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria resides in the observation that the prevalence is, relatively, high in persons with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and pregnancy. This prevalence might, even, be higher in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Hence, this study set out to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among symptom free and newly enrolled HIV infected pregnant women attending PMTCT unit of Antiretroviral clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between 1st May and 30th September 2007. Information was obtained on the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, CD4 count and viral load. Microbial culture was carried out on aseptically collected urines from the patients. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 12 package. There were 161analyzable samples from the participants. The mean age and gestational age at presentation of participants was 30.49 ± 4.3 years and 27.3± 3.2 weeks, respectively with modal parity of 2. Twenty-five (15.5%) of the urine samples significantly grew bacteria. The CD4 cells were significantly lower and the viral loads significantly higher (250.52 Vs 355.57 cells/mm3; 88,731 Vs 55,384 copies/ml; p=

Assessment of the effect of psychosocial support during childbirth in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria: A randomised controlled trial

Objective: To assess the effect of psychosocial support on labour outcomes.

A Sitz bath does not improve wound healing after elective episiotomy.

Introduction A Sitz bath is a common form of nursing care of the patients with perineal injury or episiotomy repair (Marinho, 1986). It is believed to improve circulation and offer pain relief to the patient as is the practice in patients with anorectal problems and anorectal surgery (Beazley, 1995). The pain relief can be achieved better with potent analgesic (Zlatnik, 1994). A once daily Sitz bath is often `prescribed’ to patients with an episiotomy repair, at the discretion of the obstetricians, in an attempt to promote healing and prevent or reduce the risk of infection and/or wound dehiscence. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of Sitz bath on episiotomy wound healing.

Fertility regulatory methods and development of complications after evacuation of complete hydatidiform mole.

In a prospective, simple randomised study, we evaluated the relative efficacy of hormonal (oral contraceptive pill) and non-hormonal (intrauterine contraceptive device) methods of contraception as fertility regulatory agents in patients with complete hydatidiform moles and assessed the development of complications and sequelae if any, following their use. Fifty-six patients each on oral contraceptive pills (OCP) and intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) were recruited into the study. Ten patients, six on OCP and four on IUCD discontinued for varying reasons. Five patients (two on OCP, and three on IUCD) developed a gestational trophoblastic tumour and were admitted for chemotherapy. There was no complication attributable to any of the methods.In a prospective, simple randomised study, we evaluated the relative efficacy of hormonal (oral contraceptive pill) and non-hormonal (intrauterine contraceptive device) methods of contraception as fertility regulatory agents in patients with complete hydatidiform moles and assessed the development of complications and sequelae if any, following their use. Fifty-six patients each on oral contraceptive pills (OCP) and intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) were recruited into the study. Ten patients, six on OCP and four on IUCD discontinued for varying reasons. Five patients (two on OCP, and three on IUCD) developed a gestational trophoblastic tumour and were admitted for chemotherapy. There was no complication attributable to any of the methods.

Attitudes of women and men living with HIV and their healthcare providers towards pregnancy and abortion by HIV-positive women in Nigeria and Zambia

Fertility decisions among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are complicated by disease progression, the health of their existing children and possible antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, among other factors. Using a sample of HIV-positive women (n = 353) and men (n = 299) from Nigeria and Zambia and their healthcare providers (n = 179), we examined attitudes towards childbearing and abortion by HIV-positive women. To measure childbearing and abortion attitudes, we used individual indicators and a composite measure (an index). Support for an HIV-positive woman to have a child was greatest if she was nulliparous or if her desire to have a child was not conditioned on parity and lowest if she already had an HIV-positive child. Such support was found to be lower among HIV-positive women than among HIV-positive men, both of which were lower than reported support from their healthcare providers. There was wider variation in support for abortion depending on the measure than there was for support for childbearing. Half of all respondents indicated no or low support for abortion on the index measure while between 2 and 4 in 10 respondents were supportive of HIV-positive women being able to terminate a pregnancy. The overall low levels of support for abortion indicate that most respondents did not see HIV as a medical condition which justifies abortion. Respondents in Nigeria and those who live in urban areas were more likely to support HIV-positive womens childbearing. About a fifth of HIV-positive respondents reported being counselled to end childbearing after their diagnosis. In summary, respondents from both Nigeria and Zambia demonstrate tempered support of (continued) childbearing among HIV-positive women while anti-abortion attitudes remain strong. Access to ART did not impart a strong effect on these attitudes. Therefore, pronatalist attitudes remain in place in the face of HIV infection.

Cervical cytology service in Nigeria: providers' perspective

It has been noted that efforts to organise an effective screening programme in developing countries will have to find adequate financial resources, develop the infrastructure, train the necessary manpower and elaborate surveillance mechanisms. In our study, we set out to determine (a) just how frequent is cervical cancer, to warrant the investment of funds in screening programmes; (b) what proportion of surveyed health facilities offer a cervical cytology screening programme; and (c) what basic facilities are currently available where such programmes exist? A pretested, self-completed questionnaire was sent to heads of department of obstetrics and gynaecology in public tertiary and secondary care hospitals in Nigeria as well as major mission hospitals. The response rate was 63%, monthly consultations included a mean of 114 (± 11.7) new gynaecological patients and an average of 5 (4.7 ± 0.8) cervical cancer cases. One-half of the institutions had a hospital-based cervical screening programme with an average of 27 patients being screened monthly. Finance was the main difficulty encountered in maintaining a screening service. Only four had a certified gynaecological oncologist. In conclusion, there is dismal utilisation of available services and a dearth of trained specialists should any cervical cancer screening programme be considered.

Sublingual misoprostol to decrease blood loss after caesarean delivery: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of sublingual misoprostol in addition to intravenous oxytocin, with oxytocin alone, in reducing blood loss during and following caesarean section. A total of 120 women undergoing caesarean delivery at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, were randomised into two equal groups. In Group A, 20 IU of intravenous oxytocin was given after umbilical cord clamping, while in Group B, the women received 400 μg misoprostol sublingually and 20 IU oxytocin intravenously. The outcome measures were blood loss, additional uterotonics, change in packed cell volume and side-effect profile. Associations between variables were determined by the χ2 and Students t-test. Relative risks were calculated for side-effects; the level of significance was p < 0.05. Intraoperative and postoperative blood loss were significantly lower in Group B (451.3 ml vs 551.2 ml, p = 0.007; 22.7 vs 42.2 ml, p < 0.001, respectively). In Group B, women were 7.4 (p < 0.001) and 9.0 (p = 0.008) times more likely to experience shivering and fever, respectively. The need for additional uterotonics was greater in the oxytocin group (66.7% vs 27.6%, p < 0.001). The addition of sublingual misoprostol to intravenous oxytocin reduces postpartum blood loss and the need for additional uterotonics. There is however, an increased risk of shivering and fever with this combination.