Introduction Trace element selenium, an antioxidant, and peroxynitrite scavenger when incorporated into selenoproteins and enzymes reduce oxidative stress which is implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. A paucity of information exists on the serum selenium levels among pre-eclamptic pregnant women in Nigeria, hence the need for this study. Objective To compare mean serum selenium levels and prevalence of selenium deficiency in preeclamptic pregnant women and their normotensive pregnant controls. Materials and methods A comparative case-control study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo state. Fifty-eight preeclamptic and equal normotensive pregnant controls were matched for age groups, gestational age groups, parity groups, and socioeconomic status had their serum samples analyzed for selenium level using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (ASS). Data analysis was done using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. P-value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Result Mean serum selenium levels of the preeclamptic women(0.67±0.27μmol/l) was significantly (p<0.001) lower than that of the normotensive controls(1.20±0.46μmol/l). Selenium

Background: In pregnancy, anemia is associated with increased risk of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality especially in HIV situation. To determine the prevalence and determinants of anemia in HIV positive compared to HIV negative women.Methods: This was a cross sectional study carried out from June 2016 to December 2017 amongst pregnant women who presented to the antenatal clinic. Information on socio-demographic variables and laboratory test to determine the hemoglobin levels and CD4 count (for the HIV positive women) were carried out. A total of 350 subjects with equal number of HIV positive and HIV negative pregnant women were recruited. Variables were compared between the two groups using software package for social sciences version 20. P values<0.05 at 95% confidence interval are considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age for HIV positive and negative were 31.54 ±4.1 and 29.03 respectively while, mean gestational age at booking for HIV positive and negative were 20.41±8.61 and 22.37±7.4 weeks respectively. The HIV positive group had a mean parity of 2.02±1.5, and 2.56±1.2 was that of the HIV negative group. The mean hemoglobin statuses at booking were 9.92±1.8 g/dl and 10.6±1.1 g/df HIV positive and HIV negative women respectively. The mean CD4+ at booking for HIV positive group was 478±251 per microliter. The overall prevalence of anemia irrespective of HIV status was 36.6%. The prevalence of anemia in HIV positive and negative women were 44.6% and 28.6% respectively. There was statistically significant relationship between anemia and HIV status (p=0.002).Conclusions: There was inverse relationship between CD4+ count and anemia. Low CD4+ count and non-use of HAART at booking were important determinants of anemia among the HIV.

Background: Breastfeeding is essential for a child’s growth and existence. World Health Organization (WHO) recommended six months exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for infant death reduction. However, poor knowledge and negative attitude towards EBF result in a decline in breastfeeding practice which is common in various underdeveloped nations including Nigeria. Objective: To compare the impact of knowledge of breastfeeding practices and attitude towards EBF on the prevalence of EBF among nursing mothers attending immunization clinics in rural and urban regions in Rivers State. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional research with 252 breastfeeding women who attended immunization clinics at the designated health facilities in Obio-Akpor and Emohua LGAs were recruited by systematic sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied for the data collection on socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitude and breastfeeding practices. The data obtained were analyzed with SPSS version 3.2.2. Results: The overall knowledge of various breastfeeding practices and overall attitude toward EBF among the urban and rural participants were statistically significant (P-values= 0.003 & 0.044) respectively. The prevalence of EBF among breastfeeding mothers in urban and rural regions were (66.7 & 54.0%) respectively (P-value= 0.039). Conclusion: The knowledge of breastfeeding practices and overall positive attitude towards EBF and EBF practices are higher in urban than the rural regions of Rivers State. Recommendations: Breastfeeding practices should be considered as an important aspect of antenatal and postnatal health education. Advocacy on the importance of breastfeeding should be stepped up, especially in rural communities. KEYWORDS: Breastfeeding, Exclusive breastfeeding, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Prevalence, Urban, Rural, Rivers State.

Background: The prevalence of ovarian cancer is thought to be increasing with huge burden of the disease with no comprehensive cancer center that can offer appropriate care in developing countries. However, little is known about the incidence, pattern and outcome of this disease in Abuja, Nigeria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the pattern of care offered to patients with ovarian cancer in our center and to evaluate patients’ outcome.Methods: This was a retrospective review of all the patients with histologically confirmed ovarian cancers admitted to the gynecological ward of the hospital over a period of 5 years. Relevant information was extracted from the ward register and patients medical case records. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science version 23 and results were then presented in tables and chart.Results: Ovarian cancers constituted 19.6% and 5.6% of all gynecological cancers and all gynecological admissions respectively. The mean age at presentation was 50.2±8.5 years and premenopausal 32 (55%) constituting the majority. A large proportion 43 (74.1%) of the patients were parous. The commonest symptoms at presentation were abdominal swelling (86.2%), and abdominal pain (53.4%) with the majority 38 (65.5%) presenting in an advanced stage. The commonest histological type of ovarian cancers was epithelial accounting for 30 (51.7%) of all ovarian cancers. Common treatment modality was surgery and chemotherapy and majority 32 (55.3%) of the patients had cytoreductive surgery with 19 of them having optimum cytoreduction and 33 (57%) benefitted from chemotherapy. Lost to follow- up was significantly high (55%) and mortality rate was 15.5%.Conclusion: Cases of ovarian cancers are on the increase. Women presented at an advanced stage of the disease, which resulted in short survival times. Failure of optimal management was also worsened by poor compliance to treatment with high patients' default rate.

Management of cervical fibroid which is one of the rare sites of uterine fibroid comes with challenges to gynaecologists especially in young nulliparous women where uterine conserving surgery is to be instituted. Cervical fibroid locations can be in the supravaginal or vaginal aspect of the cervix. It can also present as pedunculated fibroid or sessile fibroid from the cervical lip. The commonest presentations of cervical fibroid are pelvic pressure symptoms and menstrual irregularities. This is a case of a 24 year old nulliparous woman with recurrent pelvic pressure symptoms, heavy menstrual flow and vaginal discharge with diagnosis of cervical fibroid and vaginal fibroid polyp and was managed by uterine conserving surgery.