Profile of women with ectopic pregnancy in Eket, South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria

Abstract

One hundred and forty two patients who had ectopic pregnancy at the Immanuel General hospital, Eket between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 2002 were studied. The aim was to establish the incidence of ectopic pregnancy and identify socio-demographic factors that may be useful in predicting its diagnosis. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 1.7%. It was most common among young women of low parity (51.3%) and petty traders (59.9%). Lower abdominal pain was the commonest presenting symptom (93.0%) and 98.6%) of the patients had had pelvic inflammatory disease. The need for proper counseling and health education of our women on safe sexual practices and general improvement in their socio-economic status are advocated.

Keywords: pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, traders, home delivery, Eket

Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol. 5(2) 2005: 35-39