Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the different referral pathways to accessing abortion services. It was a retrospective observational study comparing abortion referral processes in two district hospitals. The results showed that 149 patients self-accessed the NHS abortion service in group A compared with group B of 365 formally referred patients. ⋯ However, 74% of patients in group A had their termination request met within 7 days of the initial appointment, compared with only 37% in group B (p = 0.0011). A total of 70% of terminations performed in group A were undertaken at less than 10 weeks' gestation, compared with only 31% in group B (p < 0.0001). It was concluded that the open referral pathway to accessing NHS abortion services, where available, appears to be effective in allowing more abortions to be undertaken at an early gestation.
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The study was done to determine obstetricians' attitude to and factors predicting obstetricians' acceptance of caesarean delivery on maternal request in Nigeria. Nigerian obstetricians were asked to respond to case scenarios depicting caesarean delivery on maternal request without medical indications and the reasons for their responses. The case scenarios were designed from previously published reasons for caesarean delivery on maternal request from Nigeria. ⋯ A good proportion (48.8%) of Nigerian obstetricians had performed at least one caesarean on maternal request. Obstetricians' bio-professional characteristics do not influence their attitude to request caesarean delivery on maternal request. Some obstetricians expressed fear of legal consequences from caesarean delivery on maternal request.
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The aim of maternal calcium homeostasis is to provide adequate calcium flux across the placenta during pregnancy and into breast milk during lactation, to ensure normal fetal and neonatal skeletal mineralisation. The objective of this study was to document the characteristics and outcome of patients who had postpartum hypocalcaemia. Cases of symptomatic postpartum hypocalcaemia managed over a 10-year period (1 January 1998 to 31 December 2007) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Multiparous women were significantly more affected than primiparae (χ² = 15.08; p = 0.0005). Half of the patients presented within 1 week of onset of symptoms. In conclusion, the association between anaemia and postpartum hypocalcaemia needs further study to determine the cause and effect relationship.