Coital trauma as seen at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that coital trauma is a common occurrence in the society but grossly underreported as most of the injuries are minor and self limiting. Objective: To document the pattern of coital trauma. Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study of cases of coital trauma seen at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital [UMTH] over a period of 20 years (1990 – 2009). Result: The incidence of coital trauma in this study was 0.34% of the total gynaecological patients seen within the period. The mean age was 19.88+6.75, 45.8% of them were teenagers and 16.7% were prepubertal girls. Alleged rape was the commonest aetiological factor seen in 13 (54.2%) of the patients while in 6/24 (25.0%) of the cases no obvious cause was detected. Injury occurred at coitarche in 16/24 (66.7%) of the patients and in 58.3% of them the sexual intercourse was non-consensual. The commonest site of coital injury was the lower vagina 13/24 (54.2%) and 8/24 (33.3%) had laceration on the posterior fornix. A patient presented in shock and another with a rectovaginal fistula. Conclusion: Coital injury in the society is not an uncommon occurrence but seldom reported and still poses a great challenge as regards to its prevention. Sex education, counseling and enforcement of stringent penalties to the perpetuators of rape will go a long way in reducing its occurrence.