International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness and Practice Patterns of Emergency Contraception in a Non-Residential Tertiary Setting in Nigeria

Wright, Kikelomo Ololade¹, Fabamwo, Adetokunbo Olusegun²* and Akinola, Oluwarotimi Ireti²

¹Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 November, 2025

This study assessed the knowledge and use of emergency contraception among female undergraduates of a non-residential tertiary institution in Lagos, Nigeria. It was a descriptive cross- sectional study conducted in March, 2011 amongst 363 consenting female undergraduates using pre- tested, structured questionnaires. Respondents were recruited by multistage sampling technique whilst data analysis was done using Epi Info Version 3.5.1 Statistical Software with level of significance set at P<0.05. About 26.7% of the respondents were aware of emergency contraceptives, with their major sources of information being friends (55.7%) and doctors (34%). Few (16.5%) respondents were aware that emergency contraceptives are effective within 72 h of use. The proportion of usage of emergency contraceptives amongst respondents who had heard of emergency contraceptives was 21.7%. It was concluded that information sharing strategies on emergency contraception may prove useful in deterring untoward consequences of unprotected sexual experiences amongst the youths.

Key words: Contraceptives, emergency, female, undergraduates, tertiary.
 

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Key Challenges in Linking HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Services: Evidence from Southwestern Nigeria

Adebimpe Wasiu Olalekan¹, Adeleke Najemdeen Ajao², Farinloye Emmanuel Oludele² and Efuntoye Adeola Ebun³

¹Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences Osun State University Osogbo, PMB 4494 Osogbo, Nigeria

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences Osun State University Osogbo, PMB 4494 Osogbo, Nigeria

³Family Health International/SIDHAS project, Abuja Nigeria

Accepted 21 October, 2025

Services integration ensures easy access to multiple services in a cost effective way. Integration of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services is poor in Nigeria. Removing bottlenecks to successful integration has been of high programmatic priority most especially in resource poor settings. This study determined bottlenecks to effective SRH/HIV services integration in Osun State in Southwestern Nigeria. This study combined descriptive cross sectional and retrospective study designs by collecting validated routine data on SRH/HIV integration from 100 randomly selected health care facilities. Research instruments for descriptive data collection were semi structured self administered questionnaires for health care workers, and exit interviews for patients using a designed checklist. Data was analyzed using a combination of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel software(s). The study found that only 31.9% of the health facilities had been trained on SRH/HIV integration, 42.1% of the health facilities were providing services within reach of the communities served, while 32.4% said they regularly complete the integrative referral process. Using the World Bank model of the bottlenecks analysis (BNA) process, three major bottlenecks to SRH/HIV services integration were determined. These include inadequate capacity building and poor access to SRH/HIV integrated services on the supply side. On the demand side, the major bottleneck identified was poor continuous utilization of services. Commodity challenges, poor initial utilization and poor quality of services were not among the leading bottlenecks identified. Several reasons were given as causes of these bottlenecks. Circumventing identified bottlenecks would strengthen SRH/HIV integration in order for patients to benefit from the two services simultaneously. All efforts should be geared towards removing these evidence based bottlenecks.

Key words: Sexual and reproductive health/ human immunodeficiency virus (SRH/HIV) integration, bottlenecks analysis (BNA), health facilities, Osun State, Nigeria.
 

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Oxidative Stress in Geophagy during Pregnancy: Toxicological Implications and Molecular Mechanisms

Mossanda K. S.1* and Asare G. A.2

1Department of Research Development, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern C ape, South Africa. 2Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences University of Ghana.

Received 12 October, 2024; Accepted 4 February, 2025

Geophagia, or eating earth, soil, or clay, has both benefits and risks. While natural clay has absorbent properties that can detoxify phytotoxins and reduce nausea, its long-term consumption can be toxic. Research has linked oxidative stress to pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxides and superoxide dismutase, are associated with the severity of pre-eclampsia. Some studies suggest clay eating may protect pregnant women from pre-eclampsia by inhibiting iron uptake, reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, in iron overload conditions, clay eating may exacerbate oxidative stress. The presence of free iron in soil can contribute to ROS production, activating nuclear factor NF-kB and inducing inflammatory cytokines. This may lead to pre-eclampsia complications. Supplementation with zinc or consuming clay containing zinc may help alleviate this condition. Further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying geophagia-induced pre-eclampsia and the role of oxidative stress. By exploring these mechanisms, scientists can better understand the risks and benefits of geophagia during pregnancy.

Key words: Geophagia, pregnancy, molecular mechanism , oxidative stress, Haber-Weiss and Fenton reactions, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), OH radical, 8-hydroxyl deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).
 

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Effects of Breastfeeding on Postpartum Weight Retention

Hadeel Fadhil Farhood

Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Iraq.

Received 8 October, 2024; Accepted 23 February, 2025

Women are often advised that lactation accelerates loss of the excess weight gained during pregnancy, but the evidence underlying this advice is sparse and conflicting. The aim of this study is to show the relation of full breast feeding with mothers' weight change, and to assess traditional practices in Iraqi population during breast feeding period. Longitudinal study was conducted in Babylon governorate, Iraq, during the period of 1 September, 2013 to 30 February, 2014. The collected baseline data at the time of requirement was 6 weeks and 6 months after delivery. The study sample was divided into two groups: full breast feeding (FBF) and mixed feeding group (MF). The sample was convenient, while the questionnaires include socio-demographic factors, parity, gender of baby, type of delivery, history of previous infertility, birth space, pre-pregnancy body weight, and her weight at 6 months after delivery. The questionnaires also include dietary habit during full breast feeding that includes: use of herb remedies, favorite and food they avoided. Weight (kg) and Height (cm) were measured. 175 mothers participated in the study, and they were divided into 2 groups: FBF group and MF. Full breast feeding group were younger than mixed or non- full breast feeding group. 66% of FBF had history of normal vaginal delivery with significant difference between them regarding type of delivery, and 80% of FBF group had no history of infertility compare to 63% in MF group who had history of infertility with significant difference regarding history of infertility and birth interval between 2 groups. There was no significant difference regarding pre- pregnancy body mass index between the groups and the weight change from 6 weeks to 6 months. 39.3% of FBF group reported the use of herb remedies during breast feeding fully. The most common food item avoided during full breast feeding was onion and Dates was the most favorite food. This result provide further evidence that full breast feeding promotes greater weight loss than mixed feeding among mothers even in the early months after delivery.

Key words: Weight loss, dietary habits, breast feeding.
 

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A Study of Reproductive health care for women with inflammatory bowel disease

Chisato Kimura1* and Toshihide Ohmori2

1Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan. 2Ohmori Toshihide Gastrointestinal Clinic, Saitama, Japan.

Received 29 December, 2024; Accepted 10 February, 2025

For women with irritable bowel disease (IBD), leading a healthy life during the perinatal period is important because it may affect their quality of life and motherhood. However, little attention has been paid to their challenges and the methods of coping with them. This study therefore aims to explore the challenges women with IBD face and the methods of coping with them during the perinatal period from their viewpoint. Exploratory, qualitative interview study design was used in this study. In-depth, one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2010 to 2011 among eight women having IBD, who experienced pregnancy, delivery and child rearing. The results of the interviews were analyzed by inductive content analysis. The participants recognized the following as challenges: high-risk management by obstetricians in collaboration with gastroenterologists, high risk to physical, mental and social well-being due to IBD relapse, limitation of information necessary during the perinatal period, issues related to the medical profession, and breastfeeding in their own way. They were coping with these issues by self-care for IBD, and making the most of various social support. Since IBD is often diagnosed during women’s reproductive years, gastroenterology and obstetric specialists should cooperate with each other to routinely provide reproductive counseling to women with IBD. Furthermore, we should establish, as early as possible, health care communities for women with IBD, where they can maintain their quality of life and increase their preparedness for parenthood before pregnancy and during the perinatal period, based on multidisciplinary collaboration.

Key words: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), women’s health, nursing, midwifery, multidisciplinary collaboration, reproductive care, pregnancy, child rearing, chronic illness, gastroenterology, qualitative approach.
 

International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Renal Transplantation and Pregnancy: Managing Risks and Complications

Boubaker Boubaker*, Hedri Hafedh, Abderrahim Ezzedine, Ben Abdallah Taieb and Kheder Adel

Charles Nicole Hospital, Tunisia.

Received 20 Sepetember, 2024; Accepted 14 January, 2025

Fertility is considerably affected in chronic renal insufficiency and periodic hemodialysis, and it is improved by renal transplantation. Transplanted patients recover from their renal failure state, and pregnancy occurred in 2% renal graft recipients who were fit to procreate. The aim of this study was to bring back the cases of pregnancies carried out in our renal patients who had transplantation surgery and to specify the possible complications of the foetus before and after the childbirth. It is a retrospective study with records of 20 years period (1986 to 2006) of 10 pregnancies which occurred in 7 renal transplant recipients in our Charles Nicole hospital department. Mean patient age was 33.8 years (29 to 43 years). Mean time between transplantation and the onset of pregnancy was 6.5 years (1 to 18 years). Before pregnancy, hypertension was observed in 1 case and proteinuria in other case. All our patients had creatininemia <1.50 mg/dl. Immunosuppressive treatment associated steroids and azathioprin in 3 cases, steroids and ciclosporin A in 2 cases and steroids, ciclosporin A and azathioprin in 2 cases. One patient developed diabetes. Maternal complications were rare, essentially hypertension in 2 cases, proteinuria in 1 case, ascension of creatininemia in 2 cases and hepatic cholestase in 2 cases. Prematurity was observed in 2 cases; it was related to premature rupture of membranous in 1 case and uterine contractions in cesarean patient in other case. The mean neonatal weight was 2950 g (2100 to 3500 g) with 4 small gestational age (< 2800 g). It was noted in 1 case of newborn, down's syndrome in a pregnant women who was 37 years. After a mean follow up of 7.4 years follow-up, mean cretininemia was 1.80 mg /dl (0.74-5.53 mg /dl). One patient showed chronic rejection. Immunosuppressive treatment seemed without adverse effects on fetus. The only case of chromosome abnormality appeared in a pregnant women who was more than 35 years old. The course of pregnancy after renal transplantation is generally uncomplicated without increased risk of graft loses. However, a normal arterial pressure, a stable renal function and absence of proteinuria were requested before allowing a pregnancy.

Keywords: Renal transplantation, pregnancy.