BackgroundGlobally, the absence of a premalignant stage of ovarian cancer and a reliable screening tool make early diagnosis difficult. Locally, poverty, ignorance, and lack of organized cancer services make prognosis poor. We describe the epidemiological features of ovarian cancer seen at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Northern Nigeria, a tertiary referral center, over a 10-year period in this challenging setting.MethodsAll cases of histologically diagnosed ovarian cancer between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2013 were included in the study. Case notes were retrieved to collect clinical data including age, parity, clinical stage of disease at presentation, and known associated factors. Results were analyzed using Epi info™.ResultsA total of 78 patients were included in the study. About 4–13 cases were seen every year with a tendency to increasing incidence. The patients were aged 8–80 years with mean of 37 years. Sixty-two (79.5%) patients were premenopausal while postmenopausal women accounted for only seven cases or 9.0%. There were 17 cases (22.3%) of aggressive cancers in patients aged ≤20 years. A majority of the patients, 65 (83.3%), were parous with only nine (11.5%) patients being nulliparous. Serous cyst adenocarcinoma accounted for 32 (41%) cases. Granulosa cell tumor was the second commonest with 18 cases (23.1%). The mean age of occurrence of serous cyst adenocarcinoma was 31 years and for epithelial ovarian cancers in general it was 33.5 years. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma was rare with only one case in 10 years. Factors like age, parity, and premenopausal status did not appear to be protective to the occurrence of malignant ovarian tumor in this group.ConclusionIncreasing numbers of patients with ovarian cancer were seen over the 10-year period. Young, premenopausal, parous women made up the majority of cases. Serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common histological variant.

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Background: Carcinoma of the Cervix is one of the gynecologic cancers. Gynecological cancer is a scourge in the developing nations because of the burden of cervical cancer. Carcinoma of the cervix is the leading cause of cancer death in women. The costs of treatment of cancers generally are very high and this has made care very difficult in the developing nations. The question therefore is who bears the cost and whose responsibilities? Aims and Objective: To study the economic burden of cancers on the patient, and how they source for these funds. To determine how the lack of funds or otherwise has affected their care. To assess their perception of who should bear the cost of this care. Methodology: It is a prospective study of all consecutive patients that attended the Gynecologic clinic of our unit between 2 nd January 2010 and 30 th June 2010. Data were analyzed using Excel statistical package. Result: A total of 93 patients were interviewed. A majority of 70 (76%) of the patients had Carcinoma of the cervix. The mean age of there husbands was 58 years. Most of them were either farmers (21%) or retired civil/public servants (15%) and earn between 700-1700 dollars per year. A large group of the patients were full time House wives (48%), while Petty trading and farming account for 13.3% each. The women earn less than 500 dollars per year. Only 50% received assistance, from family members (35.8%) or relatives (29.6%). More than 50% of them have spent between 1000-3000 dollars for their health bills. It was sad to note that 40% of them have no hope of help/assistance from anywhere. A majority of 83.3% believe that the government should come to their aids. Conclusion: In the developing nations, poverty still remains major problem, where people still earn less than a dollar per day. In essence prevention is paramount; otherwise most of our women who escaped maternal mortality may end up being a victim of cancer death.

Background: Domestic violence is a pattern of assault and behavior perpetrated by one partner against the other. Historically most of those oppressed by domestic violence have been women. The lifetime prevalence of domestic violence against women is 10%-69%. Though this violence might have started or escalated during pregnancy, pregnancy specific prevalence is between 1%-20%. The objective was to determine the prevalence and obstetric complications. Domestic violence is against pregnant women in tertiary clinic of a developing nation. Methodology: It was a hospital based cross-sectional case control study conducted within the period of one year. Close ended questionnaires were administered. Result: Two hundred and seventy patients were recruited. The lifetime prevalence of physical violence against women was 28.5%. 12.5% (5/40) of victims smoke cigarettes; the prevalence of alcohol intake by the victims was 45%. 72.5% of partners of victims smoke as compared to 25.5% of partners of non victims. Unemployed women were victims of domestic violence far more than the employed women. Pregnant women who are victims of physical violence are more likely to suffer adverse pregnancy outcome. Violence in pregnancy is quite commoner than most of the conditions routinely screened for during antenatal care. The association of such violence with significant maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality emphasizes the fact that domestic violence is not just a social problem but a feto-maternal health hazard that requires the input of every stakeholder to address.