The pattern of gynaecological outpatient diagnosis in a tertiary health institution in southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Pattern of clinical presentations and diagnosis varies worldwide. Determining the pattern of clinical cases seen in low resourceareas is necessary to ensure an efficient distribution of the available human and material resources, and planning.Objective: To determine the pattern of gynaecological cases seen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.Study design/settingA retrospective study of all the cases seen in the gynaecological outpatient clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi overa 5-year period.Materials and methods: The case files of all the gynaecological patients seen within the study period were analyzed for biosocial data and theclinical diagnosis. Data analysis was done with epi info version 2006.Result: 1108 cases were seen during the study period but only 1066 folders were available for analysis. Majority (53.0%) of the patients wereaged 20-29 years, and most of them were nulliparous (47.7%). 77.8 % of the patients had acquired secondary education and above, while mostof them (36.6%) were civil servants. 59.3 percent of the patients were married. Infertility was the commonest case seen (36.6%) followed by uterine fibroids (17.3%), gynaecological cancers (13.2%) and gynaecological infections (10.2%). Only 0.6 %( n=6) of the patients presented on account of contraceptive needs. Of the gynaecological cancers, carcinoma of the cervix was the commonest gynaecological malignancy (53.2%), followed by cancer of the ovary (22.7%) and cancer of the endometrium (13.5%)Conclusion: Infertility, uterine fibroids and gynaecological cancers were the commonest gynaecological cases seen among the patients. There isthe need to build capacity towards an effective and up to date management of these case.