This study showed a high rate of abnormal semen quality of male partners of infertile couple in our environment and is an indication for the need to focus on the management of this condition and the institution of preventive program for male infertility. There is urgent need for advocacy for men to accept responsibility for their contribution to infertility and to reduce stigmatization and ostracizing of women for infertility.

The study investigated postpartum emotional distress including depression among 47 Nigerian women who had a caesarean section by comparing them at 6-8 weeks following childbirth with 47 matched controls who had normal vaginal delivery. Analysis of scores on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) showed that women that delivered by caesarean section were significantly different from the controls on the GHQ and BDI scores in the postpartum period. Apart from marital status, other sociodemographic variables did not significantly contribute to psychopathology in this group of women. This observation is in support of the view that caesarean childbirth may predispose Nigerian women to adverse psychological sequelae.

Induction of labour may be indicated despite an unripe cervix. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol and an intracervical Foley's balloon catheter for preinduction cervical ripening and labour induction. A total of 120 patients requiring indicated induction of labour with an unfavourable cervix (Bishop's score < or =4) were randomised prospectively to receive either 50 mug intravaginal misoprostol every 6 h for a maximum of two doses, or an intracervical Foley balloon catheter for 12 h followed by an intravenous oxytocin infusion. The two arms of the study were comparable with respect to maternal age, parity, gestational age, indication for induction, and initial Bishop's scores. There were significant change in the Bishop's score in the two groups (5.9 +/- 0.2 and 4.0 +/- 0.2, respectively, p < 0.001) but no inter group differences. Oxytocin induction or augmentation of labour occurred more in the catheter group (95%) than in the misoprostol group (43.3%) (p < 0.0001). Induction to delivery interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group than in the catheter group (8.7 +/- 2.4 vs 11.9 +/- 2.7 h p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference noted in the caesarean or other operative delivery rates among patients in the two treatment groups. There was a higher incidence of tachysystole and hyperstimulation in the misoprostol group than in the catheter group (p < 0.03). No differences were observed between groups for meconium passage, 1- or 5-min Apgar scores < 7 and admission into the neonatal intensive care unit. In conclusion, the maternal and perinatal outcomes in this study have shown no difference confirming the efficacy and safety of both methods, however we observe a decrease in the induction-to-delivery interval when misoprostol is used for this purpose.

Although variable clinicopathological entities have been documented in sickle cell trait in pregnancy, such information is absent in this environment. This study therefore was aimed at examining the outcome of pregnancy in a population of Nigerian women with sickle cell trait. A prospective analytical study was carried at Ile-Ife, Nigeria comparing morbidities and mortalities between 210 pregnant women with sickle cell trait and 210 women with HbAA. Data were processed using SPSS 11.0 and PEPI packages, and the p value was set at =0.05. There were no significant differences between mothers with sickle cell trait and HbAA in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, the course of labour, deliveries and morbidity patterns. However, mothers with sickle cell trait had significantly fewer attacks of malaria in pregnancy (25.7% compared with 34.8%) and faster recovery of their newborn from birth asphyxia at 1 min (0.9% compared with 4.9%). Sickle cell trait may confer greater resistance to malaria in pregnancy and carries no extra risk to the outcome of pregnancy.

This research examined the sexual behaviour and perception of the risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents in Nigerian secondary schools. Quantitative data was collected from 450 senior secondary school 1 and 2 students who were selected from 5 of the 22 co-educational secondary schools in Ilesa using a multistage sampling technique. In addition qualitative data was collected by focus group discussion (FGD) with 8 groups (4 for each of the sexes) of ten randomly selected respondents from 4 other secondary schools. Sixty three per cent had had sexual intercourse. There was no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference between the genders [females (52.3%) males (77.8%)], although males appeared to be more sexually active. The median age at first intercourse was 12 years with a range of 6-19 years. Many of the respondents had multiple sexual partners. There is poor perception of the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including that of human immune deficiency virus (HIV). It was concluded that there is a high risk of the spread of STIs, including HIV/AIDS in the study population. In view of the high prevalence of sexual intercourse and the reproductive health problems associated with STI, HIV/AIDS, it is recommended that a structured family life education (FLE) curriculum should be instituted for all schools starting at an early age.