The Incidence of Uterine Fibroid Among Reproductive Age Women: A Five Year Review of Cases at Isth, Irrua, Edo, Nigeria

Abstract

This study is a 5 year retrospective analysis on the incidence and age distributions of uterine fibroid among reproductive age women presenting at the gynecology department of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo, Nigeria, from January 2008 to December 2012. Using judgmental probability technique to select units in the wards, records were reviewed and the data subjected to statistical analysis. Overall, 4536 case files were reviewed among which 896 were positive for uterine fibroid; giving a prevalence of 19.75. Specifically, the year 2012 recorded the highest incidence of uterine fibroid (23.59), followed by the year 2008 (23.36), 2009 (19.78), 2011 (18.91) and 2010 (14.56) respectively. Women within 26 – 35 years were significantly affected in all the years under study, with an incident rate of 66.96, while older women (>35) and those younger (<26), presented an incident rate of 29.58 and 3.46 respectively. Judging by these findings, it is obvious that uterine fibroid remains an issue that needs attention in Edo state and its environs. It is our opinion therefore, that an effective awareness/screening programme strategy be adopted in line with efforts to meet the millennium development goals on maternal mortality and morbidity.

Keywords: Uterine fibroid, Reproductive age, Irrua