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To assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and determinants of intimate partner violence (IPV) among nursing female student in a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki. A cross-sectional descriptive study was done in a tertiary hospital in Abakaliki between 1st March 2018 and 31st August 2018 among 450 nursing female student. They were interviewed using a Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) version 2013. Analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistic version 20. The prevalence of any type of IPV among respondents was 47.8%. The majority (70.9%) were aware of IPV and the commonest mode of information was mass media (60.0%). Majority of the respondent would resort to prayer following IPV and only 15.5% would report to police. The most common form of abuse reported was emotional &or harassment abuse (26.6%). Student's age (OR = 0.42; 95% CI [0.41, 0.92]), social class (OR = 0.60; 95% CI [0.40, 0.90]), level of study (OR = 0.45; 95% CI [0.29, 0.68]), and partner's level of education (OR = 0.60; 95% CI [0.42, 0.88]) were determinant of respondent experiencing IPV. Less than 50% of the respondent were aware of legislation against IPV. The study shows a high level of IPV among the studied group. Screening for IPV is advocated among the students' population especially among the young adolescent. Efforts should also be made by the government to increase awareness about Nigerian law against IPV.

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Introduction: Awareness of appropriate waste management procedures and occupational safety measures is fundamental to achieving a safe work environment, and ensuring patient and staff safety. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the attitude of healthcare managers to medical waste management and occupational safety practices. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 54 hospital administrators in Ebonyi state. Semi-structured questionnaires were used for qualitative data collection and analyzed with SPSS statistics for windows (2011), version 20.0 statistical software (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Results: Two-fifth (40%) of healthcare managers had received training on medical waste management and occupational safety. Standard operating procedure of waste disposal was practiced by only one hospital (1.9%), while 98.1% (53/54) practiced indiscriminate waste disposal. Injection safety boxes were widely available in all health facilities, nevertheless, the use of incinerators and waste treatment was practiced by 1.9% (1/54) facility. However, 40.7% (22/54) and 59.3% (32/54) of respondents trained their staff and organize safety orientation courses respectively. Staff insurance cover was offered by just one hospital (1.9%), while none of the hospitals had compensation package for occupational hazard victims. Over half (55.6%; 30/54) of the respondents provided both personal protective equipment and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Conclusion: There was high level of non-compliance to standard medical waste management procedures, and lack of training on occupational safety measures. Relevant regulating agencies should step up efforts at monitoring and regulation of healthcare activities and ensure staff training on safe handling and disposal of hospital waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to determine the influence of maternal socio-demographic and anthropometric parameters on birth size and delivery outcomes at AE-FUTHA Methods: The study involved a cross section of pregnant mothers and their newborn babies. A total of 400 pregnant mothers that were certified by an obstetrician as being healthy in the antenatal ward of AE-FUTHA, Nigeria from 1st May 2020 to 1st June 2021, were involved. Informed consent was voluntarily signed by each participant. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research committees of AEFUTHA. The study adopted direct standard anthropometric measurements, obstetric protocol and a questionnaire approach. Maternal and neonatal anthropometric features, socio-demographic factors and delivery outcomes were considered in this study, using guidelines of Institute of Medicine. Results: There was a significant difference between the birth length of male and female neonates (p<0.05). The mode of delivery of male neonates was strongly associated with maternal degree of pain during labor. Furthermore, there is an association between Apgar score at 5 minutes of birth for male neonates and maternal parity (p<0.05). The logistic regression shows that the mode of delivery of male neonates depends on the maternal degree of pain during labor. Conclusion: The study established that maternal sociodemography and anthropometry are determinants of delivery outcomes. It also suggested that gynecologists and nurses should place great emphasis on weight control measures during antenatal visits to reduce birth complications, especially through spontaneous vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common genital tract malignancy among women in developing countries. Objective: To assess the awareness of cervical cancer among Igbo women in a rural population of Southeastern Nigerian and determine their uptake of cervical screening services. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Structured questionnaires were administered to female attendees to the antenatal and gynecological clinics of a secondary hospital in the outskirts of Afikpo, Southeast Nigeria over a six-month period (1stst July to 31st December 2007). Data analysis was by SPSS. Results: Five hundred questionnaires were given out. Three hundred and sixty were correctly filled (72%) and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 36.2 years, 25.0% had tertiary education and 40.3% were self employed. All the respondents were sexually active. There were high incidences of premarital sex, multiple sexual partners and abnormal vaginal discharge and low condom use. Awareness of cervical cancer (37.5%), its preventable nature (31.9%), cervical screening (25%) and screening centers (20.8%) were generally low and screening uptake (0.6%) was abysmally low. Lack of awareness, non-availability of screening centers locally, cost and time were the main reasons adduced by respondents for not being screened. Overall, 62.5% of all the respondents indicated willingness to be screened. Conclusion: The exposure to conditions that predispose women to cervical cancer was high, and the levels of awareness of cervical cancer and cervical screening uptake were low. Continued awareness creation, local provision of cheap and affordable services and poverty alleviation are needed to improve cervical screening uptake with the hope of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancies are rare occurrences. Two recently managed cases are discussed. The first was a single, sexually active 23-year-old nullipara with family history of twinning who presented with eight weeks amenorrhea, positive pregnancy test, lower abdominal discomfort and other clinical and ultrasound findings suggestive of unruptured left tubal pregnancy. Intra-operatively, unruptured bilateral tubal pregnancies were found and bilateral salpingotomy performed with uneventful recovery. Histology of the specimens confirmed the intraoperative diagnosis. She was appropriately counseled. Case 2, a 30-year-old multiparous housewife who had been on clomid for secondary infertility, presented with signs and symptoms of ruptured tubal ectopic. Intra-operatively, ruptured left and unruptured right tubal pregnancies were found and salpingectomy and salpingotomy were done respectively, with uneventful recovery. The diagnosis was also confirmed histologically and counseling given as in case 1. Bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancies appear to be increasing with twin proneness and use of fertility drugs as risk factors. Whether spontaneous or induced, the hallmarks of good management include early presentation, high index of suspicion, meticulous ultrasound scanning, good case selection, judicious intra-operative inspection of the contralateral tube, histology of specimens and appropriate patient counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer is still a major contributor to cancer-related mortality amongst women living in poor, rural communities of developing countries. The objective of this study is to establish the clinical presentation of cervical cancer and the management challenges encountered in Abakaliki, southeast Nigeria, with a view to finding intervention strategies. This study is a retrospective descriptive assessment of cases of clinically diagnosed cervical cancer managed at a state teaching hospital over six years. Of 76 cases managed, 61 (80.3%) cases notes were available for study. The mean age and parity of patients were 53.8 years and 6.8 years, respectively. The majority (75.4%) were illiterate. All had been married, but 42.6% were widowed. The main occupations were farming or petty trading. One patient (1.6%) had had a single Pap smear in her life. The major presenting complaints were abnormal vaginal bleeding (86.9%), offensive vaginal discharge (41.0%), and weight loss. Twenty patients (32.8%) were lost to follow-up prior to staging. Of the remaining 41 patients, 16 (39.0%) had stage III disease and 17.1% stage IV. Fifteen patients (24.6%) with late stage disease accepted referral, and were referred for radiotherapy. Those who declined were discharged home on request, though 4 (9.8%) died in the hospital. There was no feedback from referred patients confirming that they went and benefitted from the referral. The presentation followed known trends. Illiteracy, poverty, early marriages, high parity, widowhood, non-use of screening methods, late presentation, non-acceptance of referral, and lack of communication after referral were some of the major challenges encountered. These underscore the needs for health education and awareness creation, women educational and economic empowerment, legislation against early marriages and in protection of widows, and creation of a well-staffed and well-equipped dedicated gynecologic oncology unit to forestall further referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Labor and delivery constitute enduring experiences for women. Companionship through these moments with medical personnel and/or relatives has been shown to be beneficial. Aim of this study is to evaluate factors motivating men to accompany and stay with their spouses through childbirth. Materials and methods: Men who were with their wives in labor were recruited upon in-formed consent and interviewed using a questionnaire as study group. Men who were not present in labor but appeared in the postnatal ward were also recruited, their consent obtained and interviewed as controls. The study spanned six months. Results: One hundred and forty-nine men, each in the two arms of the study, were inter-viewed. They cut across through all social strata. Educated men and those in monogamous family setting were more likely to accompany their wives compared with the less educated, polygamous marriages. Woman's educational attainment conferred an advantage. The desire to be with their loved ones (81.2%) was the commonest reason for spousal companionship, while for majority of those who did not, there was no particular reason. Conclusion: Childbirth is a difficult physical as well as psychological process with significant concerns about the outcome. The presence of her spouse is always desirable. The spouses are motivated by a variety of factors. Men accompanying their wives through childbirth deserve encouragement and would be further motivated if the attending medical personnel positively reinforce their actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]