Veneral diseases among pregnant women in Nigeria.

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted at the Antenatal Booking Clinic of the University College Hospital in Ibadan Nigeria in order to obtain information on the extent of venereal diseases among some of the pregnant women seen in this hospital. Between 60 and 100 women were screened weekly. The women in this study were some of the pregnant women attending the Antenatal Booking Clinic between January 1 and April 30 1971. 208 pregnant women were randomly selected for the study. A general examination was conducted with particular attention to the external genitalia. Any ulceration warts inguinal adenopathy mucus membranes and ano-rectal lesions were noted. A speculum examination of the vagina was performed and swabs were taken from the urethra cervical canal and posterior fornix of the vagina. Smears were made from the urethral and cervical specimens and stained by Grams method. 12 or 5.8% of the 208 women investigated had multiple infections. Patients with gonococci positive smears were treated with procaine penicillin 1200000 units daily for 5 days. Metronidazole was used to treat trichomoniasis and nystatin pessaries were inserted vaginally for the treatment of candidiasis.