Objective: There is limited data on fetal cranial dimensions of Nigerian population. This is important because the study of normal and abnormal growth of children has become an increasingly important part of the practice and research in all fields related to child health; more so that prenatal and postnatal growth is one continuous process.
Material & Methods:In a cross-sectional study conducted on 13,740 Nigerian fetuses ranging from 12 weeks to 42 weeks at the Centre for Reproductive Health Research Jos; biparietal diameter and occipitofrontal diameter were measured using ultrasound machine in order to calculate fetal cephalic index. The values were statistically analyzed after deriving the relevant indices.
Results:The regression equation was calculated between gestational age and cephalic index of fetuses of Nigerian women. This equation y = 1.3x + 59.88; showed a linear relationship which was stronger from 12 to 16 weeks of gestation. Above 16 weeks gestation, the relationship was found to be quite weak. Coefficient of correlation is r2 = 0.9844 (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion:The fetal skulls were found to be mesocephalic in the early weeks and brachycephalic at term.
There is no evidence from literature to show the use of ultrasound follicle tracking to monitor ovulation in women on Ricinus communis contraception. In the present study 20 women desiring contraception, gave an informed consent to be scanned from day 9 to day 16 of one of their menstrual cycle to track for follicles. After taking one seed of Ricinus communis, the women were again scanned for the same duration. The result obtained showed normal follicular development before the administration of Ricinus communis and the abolition of follicular development in all the 20 volunteers after taking one seed of Ricinus communis ( Figs. 1a and 1b ). This result showed that one seed of Ricinus communis taken orally is capable of preventing ovulation in humans and hence its anticonceptive effect may be due in part to the prevention of ovulation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.