Evaluating the hemostatic effects of tranexamic acid in women with pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemostatic effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) ex vivo in women with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: This was an ex vivo study involving 45 normal pregnant women and 45 women with pre-eclampsia (nine with mild and 36 with severe features) matched for age, gestational age, and body mass index. Blood samples were collected and divided into two parts. The first served as the pre-TXA sample, while the second was spiked with TXA and served as the post-TXA sample. Plasma levels of D-dimer and plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean D-dimer and PAP values in the pre-TXA samples differed significantly between groups. Following spiking with TXA, the mean D-dimer and PAP levels did not differ significantly in the pre-TXA and post-TXA samples (P = 0.560 and P = 0.500, respectively) in the pre-eclampsia cohort. In normal pregnancy, the mean D-dimer and PAP levels in the post-TXA samples did not differ significantly (P = 0.070 and P = 0.050, respectively) from the pre-TXA samples following TXA spiking. CONCLUSION: TXA did not significantly affect D-dimer and PAP levels in pre-eclampsia, suggesting that TXA may not increase the thrombotic risks in patients with pre-eclampsia.

Early onset of neurological features differentiates two outbreaks of Lassa fever in Ebonyi state, Nigeria during 2017-2018.

Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with various non-specific clinical manifestations. Neurological symptoms are rare at the early stage of the disease, but may be seen in late stages, in severely ill patients.The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological evolution, socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients seen during two Lassa fever outbreaks in Ebonyi State, between December 2017 and December 2018. Routinely collected clinical data from all patients admitted to the Virology Centre of the hospital during the period were analysed retrospectively. Out of a total of 83 cases, 70(84.3%) were RT-PCR confirmed while 13 (15.7%) were probable cases. Sixty-nine (83.1%) patients were seen in outbreak 1 of whom 53.6% were urban residents, while 19%, 15%, and 10% were farmers, students and health workers respectively. There were 14 (16.8%) patients, seen in second outbreak with 92.9% rural residents. There were differences in clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory findings between the two outbreaks. The case fatality rates were 29.9% in outbreak 1 and 85.7% for outbreak 2. Neurological features and abnormal laboratory test results were associated with higher mortality rate, seen in outbreak 2. This study revealed significant differences between the two outbreaks. Of particular concern was the higher case fatality during the outbreak 2 which may be from a more virulent strain of the Lassa virus. This has important public health implications and further molecular studies are needed to better define its characteristics.

Choice of birth place among antenatal clinic attendees in rural mission hospitals in Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Low utilization of health facilities for delivery by pregnant women poses a public health challenge in Nigeria. AIM: To determine the factors that influence the choice of birth place among antenatal clinic attendees. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study of the eligible antenatal clinic attendees recruited at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo and Saint Vincent Hospital, Ndubia in Ebonyi State from February 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016. Analysis was done using EPI Info 7.21 software (CDC Atlanta Georgia). RESULTS: A total of 397(99.3%) completely filled questionnaires were collated and analysed. Approximately 71% of the health facilities closest to the respondents had maternity services. It took at least 1 hour for 80.9% of the respondents to access health facilities with maternity services. Most (60.2%) of the respondents had at least one antenatal clinic attendance and majority of them did so at public hospitals. Approximately 43.8% of the respondents were delivered by the skilled birth attendants. The respondents' age and the couple's educational level, history of antenatal clinic attendance, distance of the health facility and availability of transport fare had a significant effect on delivery by skilled birth attendants. The common determinants of birth place were nearness of the health facilities, familiarity of healthcare providers, improved services, sudden labour onset and cost. Also 61.7% of the respondents chose to deliver in public health facilities due to favourable reasons but this could be hampered by the rudeness of some healthcare providers at such facilities. A significant proportion of private health facilities had unskilled manpower and shortage of drugs. CONCLUSION: A greater proportion of women will prefer to deliver in health facilities. However there are barriers to utilization of these facilities hence the need to address such barriers.

Utilisation of preconception care services and determinants of poor uptake among a cohort of women in Abakaliki Southeast Nigeria.

Preconception care (PCC) is a preventive strategy for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and utilisation of PCC services. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at a teaching hospital. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to extract information. A total of 450 participants responded; 44.2% (190/450) were aware, 31.7% (143/450) had good knowledge, while only 10.3% (46/450) received PCC. Health care providers were the main source of information (77.9%). There was statistically significant correlation between awareness and participants' level of education (p < .001) and residence (p < .001), as well as between utilisation and education (p < .001), and information from doctors (p < .001). There was a low level of awareness and poor utilisation of PCC, underpinning the need to scale up health education, establishment of functional PCC clinics and formulation of evidence-based guidelines to improve uptake and pregnancy outcome. Impact statement What is already known on the subject of the paper? PCC has been known in high-income countries as a prevention-based strategy, which aims at improving obstetric outcomes. However, the level of utilisation in low-income countries like Nigeria is either unknown or far too low. What do this study add? This work has provided local data on PCC; clearly indicating that the awareness and utilisation of PCC services in Abakaliki, Nigeria is very low when compared with other regions of the world, and this was influenced by the socio-demographic factors - particularly education and place of residence (for awareness), and level of education and information from health care providers (for utilisation), thus suggesting that enlightenment and improvement in social infrastructures could improve awareness, access and utilisation of PCC. What are the implications for clinical practice and/or further research? The implications of these findings in low resource settings like ours will include introducing interventions to scaling up health education, universal establishment of functional PCC units and formulation of evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving the uptake of PCC and pregnancy outcome. Further research will also be needed in future to assess the impact of such interventions and how to sustain potential benefits.

Perceptions and practice of epidural analgesia among women attending antenatal clinic in FETHA.

BACKGROUND: The pain of childbirth is arguably the most severe pain that most women will endure in their lifetime. Epidural analgesia is widely used as an effective method of pain relief in labor. It provides almost complete relief of pain if administered timely, and does not affect the progress of the first stage labor. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the awareness and utilization of epidural analgesia in labor in pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA). METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study involving 350 women attending the antenatal clinic between April 2016 and July 2016. A total of 335 questionnaires were correctly completed, and used for analysis. RESULTS: The average age and parity of the respondents were 27.6±8.2 years and 2.4±1.8, respectively. About 58.2% of respondents were civil servants, 98.5% were married, and 74.6% had a tertiary level of education. About 43.3% of the respondents are aware of the use of epidural analgesia in labor, but only 7.5% had used it; 95% of these were satisfied and desired to use it again. The reasons responsible for the poor uptake were desire to experience natural labor, cost, and fear of side effects. However, 70% of those who had not used it expressed the desire to use it. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia is one of the most effective methods of pain relief in labor. However, the present study indicates that knowledge and practice of epidural analgesia among parturients are low. Efforts should be made to raise awareness, dispel misconceptions, and subsidize the cost of providing this invaluable care in modern day obstetrics.

The preference and practice of Nigerian obstetricians regarding focused versus standard models of prenatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine preferences, practices, and acceptance of focused versus standard prenatal-care models among Nigerian obstetricians. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed among clinicians who attended a conference held in Lagos, Nigeria, between November 27 and 29, 2013. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics and opinions on prenatal care. RESULTS: A total of 201 delegates returned complete questionnaires. All respondents were aware of both models of prenatal care. Although 70 (34.8%) respondents stated a preference for focused care, only 6 (3.0%) used this model in clinical practice. The main reason for their preference was the evidence base (23.4%). Overall, 185 (92.0%) respondents stated institutional protocol determined preference for and practice of standard care, 108 (53.7%) believed patients preferred standard care, and 89 (44.3%) felt standard care had health benefits. Preference for one model over the other was significantly associated with type and level of the healthcare practice (P=0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). Modification of the focused model to meet local, national, and cultural needs was recommended by 171 (85.1%) respondents. CONCLUSION: Most obstetricians are skeptical about focused prenatal care and have not embraced this model owing to personal, institutional, and sociocultural factors.

The challenges of adherence to infant feeding choices in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infections in South East Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Global and national efforts in the 21st century are directed toward the elimination of new pediatric HIV infections through evidence-based infant feeding interventions for the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission, with patient preference, motivation, and adherence identified as key factors for success. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the challenges faced by HIV-infected parturients in adhering to the national infant feeding recommendations and their infant feeding preference for prevention of mother-to-child transmission in South East Nigeria. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, questionnaire-based study of 556 parturients infected with HIV/AIDS. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 28.0±5.3 years. The infant feeding choices were made jointly by both partners (61.1%) in the antepartum period. The HIV status disclosure rate was 89.2%. A large proportion (91.7%) practiced exclusive breastfeeding with highly active antiretroviral therapy, and 7.6% practiced mixed feeding because of nonadherence to their choice and national/international recommendations on infant feeding in the context of HIV/AIDS. This was mainly a result of pressure from family members (42.8%) and cultural practices (28.5%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates that adherence was strongly associated with age, marital status, and employment status, but not with residence, educational status, or parity. CONCLUSION: Exclusive breastfeeding is predominately the infant feeding choice among HIV-infected parturients in South East Nigeria, but there is still a gap between infant feeding preference and adherence to standard practice as a result of sociocultural challenges associated with risk for mixed feeding and the risk for mother-to-child-transmission of HIV by nursing mothers.