Prevalence of External Genital Abnormalities among Secondary School Pupils in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: There is paucity of information on the prevalence of external genital abnormalities in Nigeria particularly in Ekiti State. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of external genital abnormalities among primary school pupils in Ekiti State. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross sectional study that used multistage sampling to select pupils in Primary schools in the three senatorial district of Ekiti state. Pupils from ages two to sixteen years were examined by trained physicians for external genital abnormalities. Results: A total of 1200 pupils were examined, out of which 372 [31%] pupils had external genital abnormalities. M: F =1. There were 31 [2.58%] pupils with congenital external genital abnormalities out of 1200 pupils. All were males, with a prevalence of 5.18% among the boys. The prevalence of congenital external abnormalities by senatorial district was 3.43%, 1.07%, and 10.63% for Ekiti Central, North and South respectively. Right testicular volume was significantly greater than the left testis [t=3.426, P-value=0.001]. A high prevalence [56.15%] of Female Genital Cutting [FGC] was noted with the highest prevalence in Ekiti South senatorial district. Conclusion: Prevalence of Congenital external genital abnormalities is still low in this environment but the prevalence of FGC is quite high. Hydrocele, micro testis and high rising testes are the commonest congenital defects.