Presentations Of Adolescent Gynaecological Disorders At The Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background : The adolescent period represents a time of considerable change in
a woman\'s lifetime as reproductive capacity is achieved and sexual activity commences. This period might be attended by different gynaecological disorders. Objective: This study was to determine the common gynaecological disorders among adolescents, who presented at the gynaecological clinic of the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital.
Method: A retrospective study of all cases of adolescent gynaecologic presentations seen in the gynaecologic clinic. Emergency cases seen at the Accident and Emergency clinic were excluded. The study spanned 5 years - September 2000 to August 2005. Information was extracted from case notes retrieved from the central records department and analyzed.
Result: Adolescents constituted 5.4% of the 3,703 new gynaecologic patients seen during the review period. They presented mainly with menstrual disorders (21%), abortion complications (18%) and reproductive tract infections (15%). Other presentations included: infertility 6.5%, pelvic masses 6%, sexual assault 4%, labial fusion 3%, and utero-vaginal prolapse 2%. Urethral prolapse, vesicovaginal fistula, Bartholin\'s cyst and Asherman\'s syndrome were also seen. Conclusion: Adolescents constitute a significant number of gynaecological clinic patients with varied disorders. Doctors and other health care personnel directly involved in the management of adolescents in gynaecology must be equipped to
treat this delicate group with empathy and expertise. Early marriages should be
discouraged.

Keywords: Abakaliki, Adolescents, Disorders, Gynaecological, Nigeria.

Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 89-93