Background: The placenta is in a key position to determine the final birth weight of foetuses because adequate placental function is necessary for delivery of nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to the foetus. The relationship between the placental weight and birth weight of the neonates has been reported from several publications but such reports from Abakaliki are lacking in literature. Aim: To determine the relationship between the placental weight and birth weight of the neonates delivered at term at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. Materials and Method: It was a retrospective study conducted between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2015. The statistical analysis was done using Epi Info software version 7.2.1 (CDC Atlanta Georgia). Result: The mean birth weight was 3344 ± 488 g while the mean placental weight was 617 ± 78 g. The mean placental weight to birth weight ratio (PBWR X 100) was 19.94% ± 4.2%. Increase in birth weight of the neonate was associated with a corresponding increase in placental weight with a strong statistical significance level (P = 0.968). One thousand nine hundred and five (90.5%) patients had PBWR that ranged between 15% and 24%, which was associated with good immediate neonatal outcome. The placental weight to birth weight ratio outside this range was associated with increased admission into NICU and perinatal mortality at an odd ratio of 0.5844 and a statistical significance level (P) of 0.0036. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between placental weight and birth weight of the neonate. Knowing the PBWR at birth may help to know the foetus at risk of immediate poor neonatal outcome in order to expedite actions to prevent possible poor perinatal outcome.

Background: Labour is a stressful physical and psychological experience in a woman's life, requiring optimal coping mechanism. Companionship provides such needed support in this vulnerable moment of women. The presence of a companion of the woman's choice had been noted to have a positive influence on her satisfaction with the birth process. Objectives: To ascertain the attitude of antenatal clinic attendees to companionship in labour and delivery and their preferred companions. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted between 10th June 2016 and 28th July 2016 on 297 antenatal clinic attendees at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. The respondents completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire assessing the attitude of antenatal clinic attendees to companionship in labour and delivery and their preferred companions. The data was analyzed using Epiinfo TM version 7.1.5. Results: A total of 297 pregnant women participated in the study. They were mainly Igbos (93.27%), and Christians (96.97%). Their ages ranged from 18-50 years with most of them between 21-30 years (68.35%). Most of the women had tertiary education (48%), and were unemployed (36.36%). Ninety two percent of the respondents wished for companionship in labour, while 32.66% has had companion in previous delivery(ies). All of the women that had experienced companionship expressed satisfaction with it. Majority of them preferred their Partners/Husbands as companions (47%). Conclusion: Majority of our women were desirous of com

Introduction: Dyspareunia is one of the most common complaints in gynaecologic practice with tremendous effect on both quality of life and sexual relationship of women. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dyspareunia and its effect on sexual life among gynaecology clinic attendees in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on consenting participants between 12th May 2016 and 25th July 2016. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were used collection information on dyspareunia and its effect on sexual life at the Gynaecology clinic. The data was analyzed using Epiinfo version 7.1.5. Results: One hundred and four (104) women participated in this study. Most of the women studied were Igbos (95.19%), and were mainly between the age ranges of 21-30 years (66.35%). Most of them were married (89.42%), and were also mainly of the Pentecostal denomination (40.78%). The mean age at coitarche was 20.6 ± 3.95 years. Prevalence of dyspareunia was 36% and only 16% sought medical help. The various responses to dyspareunia were avoidance of sex 11%, reduced frequency of intercourse 8%, less desire for sex 19%, while majority of women with dyspareunia tolerated it (62%). Conclusion: The prevalence of dyspareunia is high in our society afflicting young women in their reproductive years with associated enormous stress on their sexual life.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma accounts for 1-2% of uterine cancers. It is an extremely aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. Women affected may vary in age, but are most common between 4th and 7th decades of life. Presenting symptoms mimic uterine leiomyoma. Preoperative diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma is difficult and often made at time of surgical resection. We report a case of Mrs A.E, a 40 year old nullipara with history of primary infertility of 20 years duration, who presented with abdominal swelling of 3 years and vaginal bleeding of 7 weeks duration. Abdominopelvic ultra-sonography done at presentation was suggestive of leiomyoma. She was scheduled for myomectomy and subsequently had total abdominal hysterectomy and omentectomy following intra-operative findings of features suggestive of leiomyosarcoma with evidence of metastasis to omentum. These findings were confirmed on histology of the specimen. She received one cycle of combination chemotherapy but was lost to follow up. Uterine LMS is an aggressive tumour, therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed especially for huge uterine nodules and such patients must be closely monitored for adequate management.

Background: Comprehensive estimates of the incidence of gynaecological malignancies reported from Nigeria are very limited due to limitation in record maintenance. Female cancer is a public health problem the world over. The malignancies of the female genital organs are major causes of morbidity and mortality which necessitates data for policy formulation and health planning. Aim: To establish the profile of gynaecologic malignancies reported in our centre, with reference to incidence, histological subtypes and frequency of involvement at various sites and to compare the procured data with those from other national and international centers. Materials and Method: In this descriptive retrospective study, the records pertaining to all the pathological specimens categorized as gynaecological malignancies from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2015 at our facility were studied and compared with the available international data. Data analysis was done using Epi Info software version 7.2.1 (CDC Atlanta Georgia). Result: Two hundred and eleven (211) cases of gynaecological malignancies were seen during the study period and this constituted 13.4% of gynaecological admissions. Cervical malignancies were the commonest constituting 49.2% of all gynaecological malignancies followed by ovarian malignancies (27.8%), endometrial cancers (11.9%), vulva (5.6%), choriocarcina (3.9%) and vagina (1.6%). The data obtained was compared with data from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) programme in the United States and European Union. All malignancies except cervical cancers affected a younger age group at our centre. Cervical cancers presented at a relatively more advanced stage, Ovarian cancers were more localized, whereas uterine, vulva and vaginal cancers presented at a similar stages as compared to Western data. Conclusion: This study presents a composite data of Gynaecological malignancies from Southeast Nigeria. Ad-How to cite this paper: Olaleye, A.A.,