Background: Maternal mortality in developing countries is an issue of global concern. Delivery attended to by skilled birth attendants is emphasized as an important strategy for reducing maternal deaths. Choice of birth place is determined by various factors. This study thus evaluates determinants of noninstitutional birth places and reasons for the choice among women in Aba, South-East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design carried out among 420 women in Aba, a commercial city in Abia state, Nigeria. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed by SPSS version 17 software. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine predictors of noninstitutional birth places and the result presented in tables. Result: One hundred and sixty-four respondents (39%) had their last deliveries in a nonhealth facility with unskilled attendants. These places included maternity homes (10.2%), traditional birth attendants (11.9%), religious home (7.4%) and home deliveries (9.5%). There was statistical significant difference between age, marital status, level of education, number of living children and noninstitutional birth places. Reasons cited for choice of nonhealth birth places included cost, friendly staff and perceived experience of birth attendant. Conclusion / Recommendation: Noninstitutional birth places are still prevalent in urban communities and women prefer these birth places for diverse reasons. This study recommends an address of reasons for the choice of birth places among women.Background: Maternal mortality in developing countries is an issue of global concern. Delivery attended to by skilled birth attendants is emphasized as an important strategy for reducing maternal deaths. Choice of birth place is determined by various factors. This study thus evaluates determinants of noninstitutional birth places and reasons for the choice among women in Aba, South-East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design carried out among 420 women in Aba, a commercial city in Abia state, Nigeria. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed by SPSS version 17 software. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine predictors of noninstitutional birth places and the result presented in tables. Result: One hundred and sixty-four respondents (39%) had their last deliveries in a nonhealth facility with unskilled attendants. These places included maternity homes (10.2%), traditional birth attendants (11.9%), religious home (7.4%) and home deliveries (9.5%). There was statistical significant difference between age, marital status, level of education, number of living children and noninstitutional birth places. Reasons cited for choice of nonhealth birth places included cost, friendly staff and perceived experience of birth attendant. Conclusion / Recommendation: Noninstitutional birth places are still prevalent in urban communities and women prefer these birth places for diverse reasons. This study recommends an address of reasons for the choice of birth places among women.

Background: The weighing scale is vital to pediatric practice especially in calculation of drug dosages and anthropometric assessment. Occasionally, it may be difficult measuring the actual weight of a child; weight estimation comes handy. Several estimation methods have been developed, some peculiar to some settings. It is common practice in weight estimation to subtract maternal weight from the combined maternal and child's weight, in-order to derive an estimated child's weight. However, this method has not been validated to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this study seeks to establish if this method is accurate. Materials and Methods: This study was prospective cross-sectional with a systematic random sampling design. This included children aged 0-5 years; their weights were measured using bassinet weighing scales and the beam balance stand for children less than and more than 3 years respectively. Results: There were 409 subjects recruited, 239 (58.4%) males and 170 (41.6%) female with male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The mean weights were higher in the estimation group, but these were not statistically significant. Proportion of agreement within 10% of the actual weight showed remarkable agreement in all age groups. The highest percentage difference observed was 26% and the mean percentage difference for the different ages being <5%, while the square of the difference between both methods was 0.18 ± 0.83. However, the actual weight was underestimated in 23.7% of cases. Conclusion: This "crude method" is an efficient alternative method of weight estimation in Nigerian children.

Background: The high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains rampant in sub-Saharan Africa with poor partner disclosure and a high risk for infections among serodiscordant couples. Objective: To determine the prevalence, partner disclosure and HIV serology pattern among HIV positive antenatal clinic attendees. Design: A descriptive (retrospective) study. Setting: The antenatal clinic of a tertiary center in Ilorin, Nigeria. Subjects: HIV positive women receiving antenatal care at the study site from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2013. Materials and Methods: The case files and the antenatal clinic records of all participants were retrieved, relevant data were extracted and presented in tables and charts. Results: Of the 7,342 antenatal clinic attendees during the study period, 237 were HIV-positive (prevalence 4.9%). The modal age group was 30-34 years (42.6%), adolescents were three (1.3%), 206 (86.9%) were educated, 192 (81%) were employed, 96 (40.5%) were diagnosed during index pregnancy while 141 (59.5%) were diagnosed and commenced antiretroviral therapy prior to conception. The modal age for male partners was 35-44 years (54%), 228 (96.2%) were aware of the woman's HIV status, 211 (89%) of these men were aware of their own HIV status while the 26 (11%) refused testing; the serodiscordance rate was 56.7%. Conclusion: The high serodiscordance rate for HIV infection portends a significant risk for transmission between partners; thus, higher awareness during and outside pregnancy should be improved upon to educate on strategies for preventing partner and mother to child transmissions.

Background: Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome (TMJPDS) is the commonest disorder of the joint. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence, the clinical profile and the response to medical treatment by patients suffering from TMJPDS in a Nigerian population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical records of all patients seen in Oral Medicine Clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. The age, gender, trigger factors, sites, medications and follow up visits of the patients selected were analyzed. Results: There were 24 (8.4%) cases of TMJPDS among the 287 patients seen during the period under review. There was no gender predilection; the mean age was 43 + 1.7 years and the peak age group was the 5 ^th decade of life (n = 6, 25.0%). Left sided TMJPDS was the most frequent presentation (n = 13, 54.2%) and chewing was the commonest trigger factor (n = 10, 41.6%). Most patient were placed on diazepam (n = 18, 75.0%) combined with paracetamol (n = 7, 29.2%) or norgesic (n = 5, 20.8%) or cataflam (n = 3, 12.5%) or Ibuprofen (n = 1, 4.2%). Early response to medical treatment was observed within 3 weeks (n = 14, 58.3%), especially among the patients suffering from left sided TMJPDS (n = 10, 41.7%) (P = 0.005). Conclusion: This study showed a low prevalence of TMJPDS and a predilection of TMJPDS for the left side among adult patients. Preliminary findings suggest that diazepam combined with analgesic were effective medical treatment for TMJPDS.

Introduction: Hearing impairment is the most frequent sensory deficit in humans with a higher prevalence in developing countries. Materials and Methods: Hearing assessment was carried out in lower primary school children in Port Harcourt City (PHC) between January 10th and May 21, 2010. A total of 802 school children were selected by multistage sampling technique, consisting of 405 (50.5%) males and 397 (49.5%) females. Screening for hearing impairment was done using pure tone audiometry after an otoscopic examination. The prevalence of hearing impairment was found to be 29.4%. Result: Hearing impairment was significantly more prevalent (32.8%) among children in the older age group (11-13 years) than in children 5-7 years of age (24.2%). Most (58.9%) of the children had slight hearing impairment (16-25 dB HL). Unilateral hearing loss was seen in 54.1% of the children while 45.9% had bilateral hearing loss. Conclusion /Recommendation: The study revealed that hearing impairment is common among primary school children in PHC. We therefore recommend that routine hearing screening should be part of the school health program at school entry for primary school pupils, for early detection and treatment of hearing impairment to enhance total development of the child and maximize academic performance.

Background: Adenocarcinoma of the cervix, although a common problem among females in Nigeria is often poorly screened and consequently under-detected. There is a need for improved awareness and early screening to stem the trend of increasing mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of adenocarcinoma among cervical cancer patients in Igbos of Nigeria. Design: Data sources from surgical specimens from 40 hospitals spread across the five states of South Eastern Nigeria. Setting: National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, in South Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 206 cervical histopathology reports obtained from patients of the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria between January 2007 and December 2010 were selected and studied. Results: Prevalence of adenocarcinoma is 11.5% with a mean age of presentation at 62 ± 6.4 years. It is associated with irregular vaginal bleeding (60%), vaginal discharge (15%), lower abdominal pains (13%), and post-coital bleeding (12%). Age and parity of the patients appeared to be significantly associated with the prevalence of the disease. Conclusion: There is a need for increased awareness and periodic screening to ensure early detection and institution of therapy.

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs worldwide; it is produced from incomplete combustion of fuel and the clinical features vary with the severity and severe cases may present with loss of consciousness as was seen in a family of six children who slept in an overcrowded room, polluted with burning charcoal which was meant to generate heat for warmth. Definitive diagnosis and management may be challenging in a resource limiting setting with limited facilities; however, they all responded to 100% oxygen with facemask without any complication.

Ossiculum (Os) odontoideum (OD) is a round or oval well corticated ossicle separated by a gap from the base of the dens of the axis vertebra. It is considered as a congenital or acquired condition. It could also be orthotropic or dystopic. We present an uncommon case of a 20-year-old male with OD and neck pain. Known complications of OD such as atlanto-axial instability, degenerative changes, spinal stenosis, and focal myelomalacia are also discussed.