No abstract

An 8-year study of urinary fistulae from 1974 to 1981 was done in the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. The analysis revealed no significant decrease in the number of urinary fistulae referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University during the period. Of 61 cases reviewed, 54 were consequent to obstetrical trauma of prolonged labor and superimposed operation or instrumentation. Four fistulae occurred as a complication of gynecologic surgery, while three originated from advanced malignancy of the cervix. Operative management of fistulae is discussed. Further reorganization of rural maternity services in Zambia is suggested as a preventive measure.

In the light of widespread neutropenia in healthy Africans, an assessment was made of the magnitude of pregnancy-induced leucocytosis in 264 African women by comparing their haematological values at term with those of 47 European and Asian counterparts in Lusaka, Zambia. No statistically significant differences were found in the absolute counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, or eosinophils between the three races. The fact that pregnancy did not exaggerate the neutropenia, or hamper the leucocytosis response, would suggest that: the African woman has a normal marrow which suffers from insufficient stimulation possibly as a result AND of some dietary factor.

No abstract