Showing papers in "Nigerian Medical Journal in 1977"

Abortion maternity and other health problems in Nigeria.

Abstract: A retrospective review of the 1966-72 abortion and maternity data of both the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (LIMH) revealed the following: 1) the incidence of abortion in Lagos--a rough guide to the overall incidence in Nigeria--was an estimated 3.5 per thousand population higher than in many Northern and Western European countries and the North American continent; 2) abortion mortality was very high 445/100000 patients for LIMH (this figure was from 30 to 200 times higher than those of developed countries); 3) maternal mortality rate was also very high. LIMH recorded 225 deaths/100000 booked mothers and LUTH 339 for booked and unbooked mothers; these figures were 11 and 17 times higher respectively than either the British or American figure of 20 in 1970; 4) even preventable tetanus caused 403 deaths of adults; children and infants of both sexes at LUTH as against 18 abortion deaths in the review period. The author recommends the Nigerian Medical Association and the medical community to start educating and enlightening the public on health problems through regular and periodic film shows lectures discussions brainstrusts exhibitions and others. Periodic mass immunization campaigns by medical students should be encouraged. Emphasis must be placed on prevention full and proper utilization of medical knowledge and better and effective deployment of personnel and facilities.