Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population

Jacob O Awoleke,1 Abiodun I Adanikin,1 Adeola O Awoleke2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University, 2School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Purpose: Morbidity and mortality from ruptured tubal pregnancies (RTPs) have been linked with...

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Main Authors: Awoleke JO, Adanikin AI, Awoleke AO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2015-01-01
Series:International Journal of Women's Health
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/ruptured-tubal-pregnancy-predictors-of-delays-in-seeking-and-obtaining-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH
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author Awoleke JO
Adanikin AI
Awoleke AO
author_facet Awoleke JO
Adanikin AI
Awoleke AO
author_sort Awoleke JO
collection DOAJ
description Jacob O Awoleke,1 Abiodun I Adanikin,1 Adeola O Awoleke2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University, 2School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Purpose: Morbidity and mortality from ruptured tubal pregnancies (RTPs) have been linked with delays in seeking and receiving care. Evaluation of the reasons for these delays and their contributions to maternal deaths is rarely done for women with RTPs in resource-constrained settings.Patients and methods: This was a 3-year retrospective review of the case records of women with tubal pregnancies managed at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Clinical and sociodemographic parameters were obtained, including information on onset of symptoms and intervals between the symptoms and when help was sought and obtained at the hospital.Results: There were 92 cases of tubal pregnancies, giving an incidence of 18 per 1,000 births. Most of the patients were married (74.7%), parous (64.9%), and urban dwellers (76.9%), and 11% were severely anemic on arrival. The case-fatality rate was 1.1% and 74.7% had delay in seeking care, while 82.4% of the women spent more than 2 hours after admission before surgical intervention. Rural dwellers (adjusted odds ratio 2.96, 95% confidence interval 1.08–8.36) and those without formal education (adjusted odds ratio 6.39, 95% confidence interval 1.06–67.30) had delays in seeking help, while problems with funds (χ2=7.354, P=0.005) and initial misdiagnosis (χ2=5.824, P=0.018) predicted delay in obtaining help at the hospital.Conclusion: RTPs are common gynecological emergencies in our environment that are often associated with delayed decisions to seek help and obtain care. Efforts should be geared toward women’s education and financial independence, improved hospital accessibility, and better diagnostic skills. Keywords: delay, ruptured tubal pregnancies, predictors, health care, Nigeria
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spelling doaj.art-bfeef10eaa8842668dda9f9c445f3b7e2022-12-21T21:17:49ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112015-01-012015default14114720149Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian populationAwoleke JOAdanikin AIAwoleke AOJacob O Awoleke,1 Abiodun I Adanikin,1 Adeola O Awoleke2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University, 2School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Purpose: Morbidity and mortality from ruptured tubal pregnancies (RTPs) have been linked with delays in seeking and receiving care. Evaluation of the reasons for these delays and their contributions to maternal deaths is rarely done for women with RTPs in resource-constrained settings.Patients and methods: This was a 3-year retrospective review of the case records of women with tubal pregnancies managed at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Clinical and sociodemographic parameters were obtained, including information on onset of symptoms and intervals between the symptoms and when help was sought and obtained at the hospital.Results: There were 92 cases of tubal pregnancies, giving an incidence of 18 per 1,000 births. Most of the patients were married (74.7%), parous (64.9%), and urban dwellers (76.9%), and 11% were severely anemic on arrival. The case-fatality rate was 1.1% and 74.7% had delay in seeking care, while 82.4% of the women spent more than 2 hours after admission before surgical intervention. Rural dwellers (adjusted odds ratio 2.96, 95% confidence interval 1.08–8.36) and those without formal education (adjusted odds ratio 6.39, 95% confidence interval 1.06–67.30) had delays in seeking help, while problems with funds (χ2=7.354, P=0.005) and initial misdiagnosis (χ2=5.824, P=0.018) predicted delay in obtaining help at the hospital.Conclusion: RTPs are common gynecological emergencies in our environment that are often associated with delayed decisions to seek help and obtain care. Efforts should be geared toward women’s education and financial independence, improved hospital accessibility, and better diagnostic skills. Keywords: delay, ruptured tubal pregnancies, predictors, health care, Nigeriahttp://www.dovepress.com/ruptured-tubal-pregnancy-predictors-of-delays-in-seeking-and-obtaining-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH
spellingShingle Awoleke JO
Adanikin AI
Awoleke AO
Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
International Journal of Women's Health
title Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
title_full Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
title_fullStr Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
title_full_unstemmed Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
title_short Ruptured tubal pregnancy: predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a Nigerian population
title_sort ruptured tubal pregnancy predictors of delays in seeking and obtaining care in a nigerian population
url http://www.dovepress.com/ruptured-tubal-pregnancy-predictors-of-delays-in-seeking-and-obtaining-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH
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AT awolekeao rupturedtubalpregnancypredictorsofdelaysinseekingandobtainingcareinanigerianpopulation