Background The burden of surgical complications from unsafe abortion affects both health facilities and patients in most developing countries. This study aimed to determine the nature of surgical complications from unsafe abortion treated at the JFKMC, Liberia, and the estimated cost burden on facility and patient.MethodThis was a retrospective study of the medical records of patients who had exploratory laparotomy for complications of induced abortion and presented at the JFKMC from June 15, 2018, to December 15, 2019.ResultsThe medical records of 44 out of the 49 patients who had exploratory laparotomy for unsafe abortion were captured and analyzed. Surgical complications from unsafe abortion accounted for 17.8% out of the 276 gynaecological surgeries at the JFKMC, Liberia. The case fatality was 22.4%. The mean age of subjects was 29.00 ±6.06 years. About 1/3 of the subjects were in their teens, over 4/5 were single, and half were students. Almost 60.0% of the subjects terminated their pregnancies in private health facilities. Ten subjects had a hysterectomy for necrotic/septic uterus. The mean cost of managing a patient with surgical complications from unsafe abortion at the JFKMC was $331.50, in contrast with $22.00, for spontaneous or induced abortion with mild complications treated as a day case. ConclusionThis study showed a cost burden on the facility, and patients as a result of surgical complications from induced abortion. A shift in current practice by health facilities in Liberia to medical management of abortion and MVA, training of health personnel on the use of MVA, and a less restrictive abortion law with effective contraceptive services are recommended.

Background: Pregnant women are vulnerable to the negative effects of intestinal helminthiasis, due to increased nutritional demands during pregnancy and in severe cases may contribute to anaemia in pregnancy. Aim: The study was conducted to ascertain the pattern of intestinal nematodes among pregnant women in Delta State and the likely effect on their packed cell volume (PCV). Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study, involving 300 eligible, consenting antenatal women at the booking clinic of Eku Baptist Government Hospital in Delta State, between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2019. Stool and blood samples were collected from every participant for analysis and evaluation, respectively, for helminthic pattern and PCV. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to capture relevant data. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 24. Results: Three-quarter of the women were below the age of 34 years. Over 80% (238/282) of the women were parous. Fifty-six per cent (158/282) of the women had secondary education. More than Fifty percent of respondents (154/282), were traders. Seventy-two (25.5%) women had a helminthic infestation. Ascaris lumbricoides accounted for the highest (62.5%) type of worm, followed by Necator americanus (23.6%). Pregnant women who had their toilet within their houses had a statistically significantly fewer helminthic infestation (P < 0.001). Hand washing was associated with a statistically significant reduction in helminthic infestation among the women (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in helminthic infestation across the trimesters (P = 0.224). Women with helminthic infestation had statistically significantly lower PCV (P < 0.001). Women with hookworm and mixed infestations had statistically significantly lower mean PCV (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A high prevalence of A. lumbricoides and hookwoom infestation among pregnant women was found in this study. Helminthiasis was associated with reduced PCV. The routine antihelminthics for pregnant women attending Eku Baptist Government Hospital, is recommended by these findings.

We report a case of spontaneous rare birth deformity. A case of Amelia and Phocomelia in a neonate. Amelia is a rare congenital disorder, even more so, is the combined amelia and phocomelia in a neonate. True Phocomelia was defined as the total absence of the intermediate segments of the limb. With the hand or foot (normal, almost normal, or malformed), directly attached to the trunk. The common aetiological association with phocomelia is from the use of thalidomide and genetic inheritance, as an autosomal recessive trait, involving chromosome 8. Isolated amelia is not generally considered to be of genetic origin. We present a neonate delivered by a 28-years multipara in Liberia, in West Africa Sub-Region, with amelia involving the two upper limbs, right lower limb and a Phocomelia involving the left lower limb (absence of tibia and fibula and feet with three toes). Africa is the only continent not included in the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research. It is hoped that case reports of congenital limb deformities from Africa, will contribute to the formation of a database for birth defects shortly.