Aims and Objectives: To analyse the characteristics and causes of maternal death in a referral tertiary health facility in Southern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a facility- based review of 184 maternal deaths that occurred from January 2005 to June 2009. Primary causes of death and factors that contributed to maternal death including delay in accessing health care were identified. Results: During the study period, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was 2230/100,000 live births. There was a progressive reduction in the annual MMR from 2901/100,000 live birth in 2005 to 1459/100,000 live birth in 2009. More than four fifth (84.9%) of the maternal deaths occurred among women of low socio-economic class (IV & V). The leading causes of direct maternal deaths (64.1%) were Puerperal sepsis (17.8%), Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia (15.8%) and complications of unsafe abortion (11.4%). HIV/AIDS was the third commonest overall cause of maternal death (15.2%). Half of the women experienced Type 1 delay (50%), Type 2 and 3 delay occurred in 7.6% and 18.5% of maternal deaths respectively. About two thirds of the women (58.2%) experienced more than one form of delay. Conclusion: Although direct obstetric deaths remain the leading cause of maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS is becoming an important primary cause of maternal mortality in our environment. Organization of health service delivery with an effective referral system and the provision of optimal care for HIV infected women are recommended.

Aims and Objectives: To determine the pattern of renal disorders seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital located in the North Central region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The renal register of the Paediatric Nephrology Unit of the Hospital was analysed for children seen in the last thirteen years (January 1995-December 2008). Results: A total number of 164 children were seen during the study period. Nephrotic syndrome was the leading renal disorder accounting for 69 (42.1%) cases. This was followed by acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) which occurred in 47 (28.7%) children. There were also 19 cases of acute renal failure (ARF). Sepsis was the leading cause 7(36.8%) followed by diarrhea related illness 5 (26.3%). Eleven deaths were recorded among the ARF cases giving a case fatality of 57.9%. Conclusion: Nephrotic syndrome and acute glomerulonephritis are the leading renal disorders in children in our center. The few cases of ARF seen, recorded attendant high mortality because of inadequate access to dialysis.

Aims and objectives: To investigate the frequency of precancerous lesions in H. pylori gastritis in Nigerians Materials and Methods: Previously, the slides of all endoscopic gastroduodenal biopsies seen at the Pathology Department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife between 1994 and 2003 were reviewed and published. The current review examined interplay of intestinal metaplasia, glandular atrophy and epithelial dysplasia with H.pylori. The H.pylori, intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy were graded based on updated Sydney classification scheme while Vienna classification was used for dysplasia. Results: Out of 1036 biopsies seen during the study period, 135 (13%) had associated precancerous lesions. Intestinal metaplasia was the commonest (9.2%), followed by severe atrophic gastritis (4.3%) and low grade dysplasia (0.7%) occurring either alone or in various combinations. Most of these lesions were seen in patients above 40 years of age and over 80% were H.pylori positive. Conclusion: Frequency of precancerous lesions is low among Nigerians with H.pylori gastritis. Intestinal metaplasia was the commonest lesion and was mostly type I with relatively low risk for gastric cancer development. The relatively high prevalence H.pylori infection among these cases could have resulted from repeated infection and most were localised to the corpus relative to the antral region where the precancerous lesions were seen.

Aims and Objectives: To determine respondents' perception of their breath odour and their attitude to halitosis, a symptom with social, psychological and medical implications. Patients and methods : Cross-sectional survey of 213 participants at an oral health education programme organised by a female non-governmental organization, at Ibadan, Nigeria. Socio-demographic variables, individual assessment of breath odour, attitude, experience and knowledge of halitosis were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Results : About 67.1% (143) did not perceive foul odour from their oral cavity at any time of the day while one respondent perceived a persistently foul breath. 83.1% would like to be told if their breath smells foul and were of the opinion that such information was helpful. 25 respondents considered such remarks embarrassing/insulting, preferring not being told. Seventy-seven (36.2%) would consult the dentist, while 13% (27) would use agents such as chewing gums and candies to mask oral malodour if their breath odour was foul. 80 respondents had been in contact with individuals with foul breath but only 38.8% of them informed the individuals with malodour that their breath odour was foul. Conclusions: Most respondents had a good impression of their breath odour and would appreciate it when informed that their breath is offensive. A few individuals were reluctant to inform people with bad breath while some took exception to such information. To reduce the present stigma and reluctance to discuss bad breath, steps must be taken to re-orientate people through public enlightenment programmes on the aetiology, available remedy for halitosis and how to convey sensitive information to people.

Objectives : This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among secondary school children in Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and methods : A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the participants who consisted of children aged 12-14 years taken from eleven randomly selected secondary schools in the five local government areas of Ibadan Metropolis. The children were examined by the Principal Investigator after submitting parental administered questionnaires. The diagnosis of dental fluorosis was based on the TF index. Results: The mean age of the 1372 participants (825 males and 547 females) was 13.15 + 0.80 years. Dental fluorosis was diagnosed in 157 (11.4%) children (98 males and 59 females). There was no statistically significant difference between age or gender and the occurrence of fluorosis. Most of the cases were very mild with greater than 90% of the affected teeth having a TF score of <3 . The most severely affected were the maxillary molars. Severe disfiguring cases of dental fluorosis were not common among the secondary school children examined. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be low, with majority of the cases being very mild.

Aims and objectives: To study the pattern of death caused by penetrating weapons. This is a prospective autopsy study of 254 cases over 8 years (1995 - 2002) Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all the medico-legal autopsies performed by the authors on bodies in which the circumstances of death suggested the use of penetrating weapons over a period of 8 years was carried out by the authors. Results: A total of 254 bodies that died during close combat, communal clashes, militant attacks and armed banditry of penetrating weapons were recorded. The youngest was 2 years old male while the oldest was 75 years old male. The highest death toll occurred between the ages of 20 - 49 years 197(77.6% cases) with a peak at the age group 20 - 29 years 75(29.5%) cases. There were 218(85.8%) males and 36 (14.2%) females giving a male to female ratio of 6:1. The most common cause of penetrating death was gunshot missiles 136(53.5%), while the most common anatomic site of the wound was the chest wall 85(33.5%). Instant death occurred in 179(70.5%) cases and haemorrhagic shock caused the death of 229(90.2%) cases, while the brain was the most common organ lacerated 61(24.0%). Conclusion: Penetrating wounds were commonly sustained in close combats, during communal clashes, militant and armed robbery attacks, and youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Guns which are prohibited by law and other sharp and pointed instruments were freely used. The condition is preventable by enforcing stringent laws, but it resulted into a lot of mortalities.

Aims and Objectives: To study the frequency distribution of gender, age, cause and circumstances of drowning in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, using autopsy. Materials and methods: The autopsies were performed and reported by the authors covering 1st January 1998 to 31st December 2009, inclusive after being served with the coroner's inquest forms by the police. Bio-data and other variables were the age, sex, the environment in which the bodies were recovered and the pattern of death of the victims. The photographs used were taken by police at autopsy. Results: A total of 85 drowned bodies were studied during the period under review. The youngest was a year old male and the oldest was a 76 year old male. Males were 63 (74.1%) and females 22 (25.9%), giving a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. The highest frequency of death occurred the age group 50-59 years, 21 (24.7%). Most of the bodies 48 (56.5%) drowned in the river, accidental drowning was the most common circumstances of death, 68 (80.0%) and asphyxial death was the most common pattern of death 72 (84.7%). Conclusion: Death from drowning is a common but preventable public health problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, since most of the victims drowned accidentally mainly due to lifestyle and psychosocial problem.

Aim: This study is designed to identify the associated occupations most at risk of developing lymphoid malignancies. Patients and methods: The medical records of all lymphoid malignancy cases seen in University of Benin Teaching Hospital between July 2001 and June 2010 were retrieved from medical record library. The patient's bio-data, occupational, social and past medical history and pathologic subtypes were extracted. Results: A total of 252 patients records with diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies were reviewed in this study. Farmers (20.6%) and students (38.9%) form the majority of the cases seen and both showed statistically significant association with risk of LM (p<0.0001) Conclusion: This study revealed that agricultural workers and students in Benin City are at higher risk of developing lymphoid malignancies. Although previous studies have implicated agricultural exposure, the same cannot be said about students. It is therefore recommended that a follow up study should be conducted to ascertain the possible environmental, nutritional, social/lifestyle stressors that put students in Benin City at higher risk of lymphoid malignancies.

Aims and Objectives: To determine and report the occurrence of overt renal presentations in children with sickle cell disease seen over the last 14 years (1995-2009) at the Emergency Paediatric Unit and Paediatric Ward and followed up at the Paediatric Nephrology clinic of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin (UITH). Patients and Methods: The five cases with overt renal presentations seen during the period were reported and analyzed for age, sex, and renal manifestations. Results: The age range of the children was 9-15years with a mean of 11years. Four of the five patients were females, with one male. Three of the four females presented with features suggestive of nephrotic syndrome (NS) while the other one had gross haematuria which resolved within 24 hours. The only male had enuresis. The NS in one of the patients progressed to end stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: Children with sickle cell disease should be screened for renal complications especially from the late first decade of life. This will help in the early detection of renal disorder that could lead to chronic kidney disease. It is also suspected that the severe forms of SCN such as NS may have a predilection for the female gender. A more extensive study is needed to test the veracity of this observation.