Background: The ripeness of the cervix is of critical importance to the probability of successful labour induction. Aim: To determine the relationship between successful induction of labour and Bishop score. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all obstetric patients who had induction of labour between January 1 st 2012 and December 31st 2015 was done in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. The information obtained from patients' case notes was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at an alpha level of 0.05 for all statistical tests. Results: During the study period, there were 9548 deliveries; 2.76% (264) was by induction of labour with success rate of 75.4%. The mean age of the women was 28.4 ± 5.8 years; majority where nulliparous (45.45%). The most common indication for induction of labour was postdatism (43.94%). Success of induction of labour was most likely at Bishop score of 8 to 10 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.84). Induction delivery interval was shortest with use of Foley catheter and misoprostol. Conclusion: Our study has shown that success of induction of labour was most likely at Bishop Score of 8-10. We advocate the use of Foley catheter and misoprostol for cervical ripening especially when there is need to expedite delivery.

Background: Drotaverine, a spasmolytic, has been found to have potential to achieve a reduction in the duration of labour and prevent prolonged labour. Objective: To compare the effects of intravenous drotaverine hydrochloride with placebo for shortening the duration of active phase of labour in primigravidas. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of 246 primigravidas in active phase of labour at term was conducted. They were randomly (1:1 ratio) administered intravenous 2 ml (40mg) of drotaverine hydrochloride or 2 ml of Vitamin B complex as placebo. The primary outcome measure was the duration of active phase of labour. The secondary outcome measures were cervical dilatation rate, oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labour, labour pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: The mean duration of active phase of labour (hour) was significantly lower in the drotaverine group compared to the control (drotaverine; 6.22 ± 2.41 vs placebo; 8.33 ± 3.56; p <0.001). Also, the cervical dilatation rate (cm/hr) was significantly faster in the drotaverine arm (drotaverine; 1.68 ± 1.02 versus placebo; 1.06 ± 0.53, p <0.001). There was a significantly higher probability of faster delivery among women who were given drotaverine (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labour, labour pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were not significantly different among the groups. Conclusions: Drotaverine hydrochloride is effective in shortening the duration of active phase of labour without adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, more evidence is needed to explore its role in active phase of labour among primigravid women. Trial registration number: PACTR201810902005232. Keywords: Drotaverine; duration of active phase of labour; primigravidas; placebo; shortening.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the validity and reliability of the Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R) and to adapt it into the Igbo language.  MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was done among 500 women who delivered at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching hospital Abakaliki between 1st March 2019 and 31st August 2019. The BSS-R questionnaire was used for data collection in the postnatal ward. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The properties of the scale were tested by conducting reliability and validation analyses. The level of significance is a P-value of <0.05.  RESULTS The mean age of the women was 28.8±4.7 years; the majority (230, 46.0%) were between the age group of 30 – 40 years. Three-fifth of the study participant had formal education. The majority (460, 92.0%) were multipara and had delivered mostly (326, 65.2%) at Full Term. Three Component loading was identified in the Scale. Examination of the pattern matrix showed three components/themes: support by staff during labour (I felt well supported by staff during my labour and birth (r = 0.875); parturient confidence during labour (I felt out of control during my birth experience (r = 0.714) and distraught during labour (I was not distressed at all during labour (r = 0.821). Communality value (r2) mostly ranged between 0.507 and 0.801. The scale had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.62. This increased to 0.70 following the removal of “I was not distressed at all during labour” responses from the analysis.  CONCLUSION The Igbo version of BSS-R has good internal consistency. It is a valid and reliable scale to be employed in assessing maternal satisfaction among Igbo-speaking women in the study area and Nigeria in general.

Background: University undergraduates are at an age when experimentation with sex is prevalent. A significant number of young people still indulge in high risk sexual behavior. Hence, profiling safer sex would be important for the future health of this group. More so an improved knowledge among this group could act as a step down during peer interactions with other non-medical undergraduates. Aim: This study was designed to assess the knowledge and practice of safer sex among Medical undergraduate students and to know to what extent their practice impacts on their health as regards contraction of sexually transmitted infections and having an unwanted pregnancy. Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study, three hundred and fifty (350) Medical undergraduate students were interviewed using pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaires to assess their knowledge and practice of safer sex.