A total of 200 Nigerian women visiting Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital's antenatal clinic were interviewed about their knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning. About 90% were literate. Their knowledge (80%) and approval (87%) of family planning was high, but the practice of modern family planning was low (25%) with most women involved in Billings/safe period (56%). The common methods used were Billings/safe period, condom, withdrawal and the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD). A total of 81.5% of the respondents are still willing to give birth while 77% agreed that their last pregnancy was planned. A total of 58.5% of respondents were educated about family planning in the antenatal clinic. The most common source of family planning information was mass media, closely followed by health workers, while the most common single reason for non-practice of family planning was rejection by the husband. We therefore conclude that despite the high education/literacy with the attendant and high knowledge and approval rate of family planning in this part of Nigeria, the practice of family planning is still low, especially due to partner objection. Policy makers should therefore increase male involvement in family planning programmes and pursue a more aggressive public awareness campaign.

Laparoscopic examination is useful in the evaluation of infertile women. To perform this test, pneumoperitoneum is required to distend the abdomen, improve visibility and displace the intestines out of the pelvis. Several gases have been used to achieve this purpose including nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), helium, xenon and air. This is a prospective study in a private fertility centre comparing CO2 and room air pneumoperitoneum for diagnostic laparoscopy. Also the safety of room air was evaluated. One hundred and forty five patients received CO2 (group 1, n=73) or room air (group 2, n=72) pneumoperitoneum. Ketamine anaesthesia was used for all the patients and the cost of the procedure was same for the study. CO2 pneumoperitoneum offered better visibility during laparoscopy and the patients also had a better outcome: Wound infection (CO2-2/73: 2.7% Vs. Air-11/72: 15.3%); abdominal discomfort (feeling of retained gas in the abdomen) CO2-5/73: 6.9% Vs. Air-61/72: 84.7%) and shoulder pain (CO2-0/73; 0.0% Vs. Air-56/72: 77.8%). Group 1 patients returned to normal activity earlier (1.5 days +/- 1.3 SD Vs. 4.8 days +/- 2.1 SD). We conclude that CO2 pneumoperitoneum has a better outcome than Air especially for day-case diagnostic laparoscopy. However, room Air pneumoperitoneum is safe, cheap, and available and may be recommended for low resource settings.

General anaesthesia using ketamine has been shown to be safe. It is generally used in our private hospitals where there is lack of qualified personnel and sophisticated anaesthetic machines. A retrospective review of 295 cases of laparoscopy was performed over 28 months at the fertility Unit of Life Specialist Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Ketamine general anaesthesia was used for all the patients after premedication with 0.6 mg of atropine. Seventy-six and 102 patients who had additional premedication of 10 mg diazepam and 50 mg promethazine, respectively, were compared. The duration of this procedure ranged between 7 and 18 minutes, with a mean of 12 minutes. The dose of ketamine used was 100 mg mean (range 50-180 mg); 12.6% of the patients had some form of reaction. Diazepam reduced talkativeness during recovery but increased the recovery time significantly, from an average of 45 minutes to 3 hours. Promethazine significantly reduced vomiting and restlessness and did not significantly prolong the recovery time (from an average of 45 minutes to 70 minutes). Two patients who had only atropine as premedication had an idiosyncratic reaction of breathlessness and tonic-clonic-like movements. They responded to intravenous diazepam. Ketamine produces a safe, effective and simple general anaesthesia and is recommended for use in day-case laparoscopy, where standard anaesthetic machines and trained personnel are lacking. Use of promethazine premeditation is advocated for improved outcome.

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