Traditional uvulectomy among the neonates: Experience in a Nigerian tertiary health institution

Abstract

Background: Traditional uvulectomy is widely practiced in some African countries with children more vulnerable to such practices, which may be associated with life threatening complications.

Objectives: To determine the age at the time of the procedure, reasons and complication(s) following traditional uvulectomy.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of hospitalized neonates presenting as emergencies following traditional uvulectomy to the accident and emergency department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, from June, 2004 to May, 2015.

Results: A total of 21 cases were reviewed. Twelve(57.1%) males and 9(42.9%) were females: ratio of 1.3:1. The age ranged from 1 to 21 days with the mean age of 8.8 days. Majority 11(52.4%) of the traditional uvulectomies were performed before the 7^thday of life. The mean duration before hospitalization was 8.4 hours. Post-uvulectomy haemorrhage 18(85.7%) was the most common complication and this was followed by septicaemia 3 (14.3%) with 2(9.5%) mortalities from the septicaemia. All the patients were anaemic. Prevention of sore throat 12(57.1%) was the main reason for traditional uvulectomy. Sixteen (76.2%) patients were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion: Neonatal traditional uvulectomy was mostly done in the first week of life, prevention of sore throat was the common intent and complicated with post-uvulectomy bleeding and septicaemia. Health institutions have a role to play in public health education on the harmful effects of traditional uvulectomy.