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Biomedical subjects

C C Ekwempu

Publications and source records attributed to C C Ekwempu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Rapid HIV testing and counselling in labour in a northern Nigerian setting.

Between April and August 2004, all pregnant women in labour at JUTH, were offered rapid HIV testing and counselling with opportunity to decline testing. HIV positive women were offered the standard nevirapine mono-therapy prophylaxis regimen (HIVNET 012). Four hundred and thirty (99.8%) of the 431 pregnant women who were offered rapid HIV testing and counselling, agreed to test. A sero-conversion rate of 2.1% (5 of 235) was found among women who had previously tested negative for HIV during the index pregnancy. A seroprevalence rate of 9.6% (16 of 166) was found among women with unknown HIV status. One patient who had an indeterminate HIV status prior to labour tested positive in labour. Rapid HIV testing and counselling in labour is a useful practice in high prevalence settings since it detects a substantial number of HIV-infected women and HIV-exposed babies that would otherwise have missed interventions to prevent MTCT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

An investigation of sociomedical risk factors associated with vaginal fistula in northern Nigeria.

In some countries in Africa it is customary for early marriages involving young adolescent girls to be contracted prior to the commencement of their menses. This practice often results in premature pregnancies which in turn leads to devastating physical and social consequences such as vesico vaginal fistula (VVF). VVF is a severely demoralizing and disabling childbirth injury among women who become incontinent as a result of an opening created between the vagina and bladder. A case control study of 50 VVF patients and 50 non-VVF village women was undertaken in Katsina, Nigeria. Statistical analysis showed that VVF patients were smaller in stature, had less education and were of lower socioeconomic status. Also, the analysis showed that both groups of women married and commenced childbearing at an age too early for a safe delivery, thus placing them at risk of VVF. Predictive variables for the condition are: age at marriage, parity, husband's occupation and level of education.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

An evaluation of the copper-T 380A IUD's safety and efficacy at three African centers.

The use of intrauterine devices in Africa is low compared with other contraceptive methods such as oral contraceptives. This study, coordinated by Family Health International, evaluated the clinical performance (safety and efficacy) of the TCu 380A IUD in three African centers, respectively, in Cameroon, Egypt, and Nigeria from 1986-1989. The 12-month unintended pregnancy rates were low for all three centers, ranging from none to 1.6 per 100 women. The 12-month discontinuation rates for all reasons ranged from 8.8 to 26.9 per 100 women. Statistically significant differences were observed among clinics for discontinuation rates for bleeding and/or pain and for planned pregnancy. The overall performance of the TCu 380A IUDs was considered satisfactory. Thus, the limited use of IUD in Africa could be due to the lack of accessibility, lack of information about, and confidence in the method rather than to documented clinical performance.

Cameroon↗
PubMed1995

Pregnancy associated alpha-glycoprotein (SP-III) in Nigerian pregnant women.

Pregnancy associated protein (SP-III) was measured by rocket electroimmunoassay in the sera of Nigerian women with normal and abnormal singleton pregnancy. A tendency to increases of SP-III levels with advancing gestational age was observed. SP-III may contribute to immunosuppression in preventing anti-allograft responsiveness and levels may also reflect the effect of infections since SP-III is also leucocyte derived. Values in PET and anaemia in pregnancy were similar to values in normal pregnant women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A multicenter clinical trial in Nigeria with a low-dose oral contraceptive, Marvelon.

The monophasic combination preparation, Marvelon, is a modern, technically improved oral contraceptive. It was tested for contraceptive reliability, cycle control and acceptability in 4 clinical centers in Nigeria for a period of one year. A total of 408 women was included in these studies, and 3102 cycles were monitored. The results showed a high contraceptive reliability and an excellent cycle-control. It was well tolerated. There were very few side-effects and the symptoms during medication were minor and hardly needed any treatment. At 12 months, 43.1% of the acceptors were still in the trial. Seventy-nine women (19.4%) discontinued before the end of the study for any reason. Drop-out reasons of these women were mainly non-medical. For the remainder of drop-outs no reason was given. This study suggests that this new oral contraceptive adequately satisfies the contraceptive needs of modern women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A multicenter clinical trial in Nigeria with Multiload-Cu250 (MLCu250) and Multiload-Cu375 (MLCu375) intrauterine devices.

A multicenter study was conducted in Nigeria, comparing the Multiload-Cu250 (MLCu250) with the Multiload-Cu375 (MLCu375). The two intrauterine devices were studied on aspects of effectiveness and acceptability. Parameters were observed and analyzed, using the life-table method of Tietze and Lewit. Continuation rates were excellent. Overall results were in line with studies done elsewhere in the world with Multiload devices, showing a slight superiority of the MLCu375 over the MLCu250.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Mycoplasmas among clients attending a family planning clinic in Zaria, Nigeria.

The effect of contraception in the incidence of genital tract mycoplasma infection was studied in 150 women practicing contraception and another 50 women attending a gynecological clinic, using no contraception. Using the chi-squared method, there was no statistically significant difference between total mycoplasma recovery in family planning clients versus the controls. The only statistically significant difference was between total positive mycoplasma in the oral contraceptive group versus IUD users.

Contraceptives, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Sexually transmitted disease among women attending a family planning clinic in Zaria, Nigeria.

Three types of sexually transmitted infections were investigated among 150 family planning clients using different methods of contraception and 50 controls. For oral contraception, intrauterine contraceptive device, medroxyprogesterone acetate (depo-provera) and controls, the incidence of trichomonas was 0%, 6%, 8% and 4%; for gonorrhoea it was 0%, 8%, 2% and 6%; for syphilis it was 4%, 34%, 16% and 12%. Only the difference in prevalence of syphilis among intrauterine contraceptive users and control was statistically significant (P less than 0.3).

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1988

Carcinoma of the cervix uteri in Zaria: etiological factors.

The study conducted at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria from January to December, 1984 showed that carcinoma of the cervix uteri occurred in 4.18% of new gynecological attendances; 68.9% of the cases occurred in the age range 40-55 years. Early age at marriage (80.0%), and at first pregnancy (77.8%) as well as multiple marriages (48.9%) and low contraceptive usage were identifiable associated factors. The parity of the patient did not seem to be of significance. The earliest presenting symptom was post-coital bleeding occurring 10.8 months prior to attendance for medical advice. However, late presentation (in Stages IIb-IV) in 86.7% of cases was due to illiteracy, shyness, male dominance and non-recognition of the importance of early warning symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Pregnancy-specific beta-glycoprotein (SP1) in normal pregnancy in Nigeria.

The circulating levels of pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoproteins (SP1) were measured in 71 normal pregnant women in Northern Nigeria by immunoelectrophoresis. The levels showed a steady rise up to 34 weeks as in Caucasians and then plateaued with a slight fall just before term. The mean individual values were lower than those found in Caucasians at comparable gestation periods. This was thought to be related to the lower mean fetal weight in the Nigerian women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Anaemia and iron status of pregnant and non-pregnant women in the guinea savanna of Nigeria.

Haemoglobin concentration, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and serum ferritin (SF) were measured in 66 elite non-pregnant and 95 pregnant (27 elite and 68 non-elite) Nigerian women at Zaria, in the guinea savanna. Anaemia (as defined) was observed in 46% non-pregnant, 37% pregnant elite and 52% pregnant non-elite women. Iron deficiency (as defined) was diagnosed in 54, 30 and 25%, respectively. The mean SF in pregnant elite (28.9 micrograms l-1 was lower, but not significantly, than in pregnant non-elite women (33.6 micrograms l-1, either because of less inflammatory disease or because of more iron deficiency. The prevalence of anaemia tended to fall with increasing parity, being 52% in primigravidae and 40% in grande-multigravidae; this was probably due to greater risk of malaria-induced anaemia in primigravidae. In contrast, prevalence of iron deficiency increased with parity, being 18 and 35%, respectively, in primigravidae and grande-multigravidae. Anaemia and iron deficiency were seen most frequently in the third trimester. Pregnant women in the north of Nigeria require iron supplements irrespective of socioeconomic status or maternal parity.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Microbial flora of the lower genital tract of women in labour in Zaria, Nigeria.

Nine genera of microbes isolated from the lower genital tract of 187 women in labour in Zaria have been identified. The work was undertaken to establish the nature of microorganisms in the lower genital tract of women in labour as a basis for further study. The isolates in order of prevalence were: Candida albicans (20.9%), Klebsiella sp (15.0%), Escherichia coli (9.1%), Streptococcus faecalis (6.4%), haemolytic streptococci (other than Streptococcus pyogenes (2.7%), Streptococcus viridans (2.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.1%), Aeromonas hydrophila (2.1%), Proteus mirabilis (1.1%), Peptostreptococcus putridus (1.1%), Streptococcus pyogenes (0.5%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (0.5%). Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus sp, Lactobacillus sp, and Clostridium sp were sought but not found. Chlamydia, viruses, and T-strains of mycoplasma and trichomonas were not sought. It appears from this study that the lower genital tract of most women in Zaria at the time of labour is heavily colonised by pathogens. For this reason alone prolonged labour and trauma to the genital tract at the time of delivery should be avoided.

Bacteria↗