The aims of this study are to assess the awareness and intention to use maternity services. This was a multicentric study involving 800 women. Educational status was the best predictor of awareness of birth preparedness (P = 0.0029), but not a good predictor of intention to attend four antenatal clinic sessions (P = 0.449). Parity was a better predictor of knowledge of severe vaginal bleeding as a key danger sign during pregnancy than educational level (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.3849, resp.). Plan to identify a means of transport to the place of childbirth was related to greater awareness of birth preparedness (χ 2 = 0.3255; P = 0.5683). Parity was a highly significant predictor (P = 0.0089) of planning to save money. Planning to save money for childbirth was associated with greater awareness of community financial support system (χ 2 = 0.8602; P = 0.3536). Access to skilled birth attendance should be promoted.

Information on fetal weight is of importance to obstetricians in the management of pregnancy and delivery. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of clinical and sonographic methods of predicting fetal weights at term. This prospective comparative study of 200 parturients was conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. The study participants were mothers with singleton term pregnancy admitted for delivery. The mean absolute percentage errors of both clinical and ultrasound methods were 11.16% ± 9.48 and 9.036% ± 7.61, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.205). The accuracy within 10% of actual birth weights was 69.5% and 72% for both clinical estimation of fetal weight and ultrasound, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.755). The accuracy of fetal weight estimation using Dare's formula is comparable to ultrasound estimates for predicting birth weight at term.

Abstract:The aim of the study is to identify the factors influencing contraceptive use and initiation of sexual intercourse after childbirth. This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 256 consecutive women, who delivered between April and October, 2007, presenting at the Immunization Clinic, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria in April, 2008. Data was obtained using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Women who had antenatal and postnatal counseling were significantly more likely to use contraceptives than those who did not have counseling (odds ratio (OR) 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14-0.59; P = 0.0002 and OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.08-0.38; P = 0.0000002 respectively). Other variables significantly associated with contraceptive use included education (P = 0.0470) and reproductive goal (P = 0.0303). Linear regression analysis showed direct relationship between caesarean section and episiotomy as modes of delivery, and initiation of coitus (r 2 = 0.439 and 0.45 respectively). Concerning residence after childbirth, staying at home and with in-laws showed direct relationship with initiation of coitus (r 2 = 0.208 and 10.750 respectively). The number of women abstaining from intercourse showed a decreasing trend with increasing months after childbirth. Initiation of coitus was significantly associated with resumption of menstruation (P , 0.0001) and non-contraceptive use (P = 0.0089).In conclusion, this study shows the need for use of postpartum contraception before fecund women become susceptible to pregnancy.

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