Cervical incompetence: prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria.

Wekere FCC1*, Clement-Wekere GAF2, Nonye-Enyidah EI1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
2Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Correspondence: Dr. Felix CC Wekere; +234 803 549 2898; fccwekere@yahoo.com

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Abstract

Background: The Continuation of pregnancy to period of foetal viability and/or term is highly affected by incompetent cervix. Cervical incompetence is the inability of the cervix to carry pregnancy to term due to structural or functional defect. The global prevalence of cervical incompetence ranges from 2.7- 18.4/1000 births. Cervical cerclage is widely used in its management. There is paucity of literature on the prevalence and treatment op on in our environment. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic, and clinical characteristics of cervical incompetence and its treatment in women of reproductive age attending RSUTH for care.
Objective: To determine the prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of cervical incompetence and its treatment.
Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective observational study in which data were extracted from the case files of the 96 patients diagnosed with cervical incompetence using structured study proforma. Data were sorted, coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.
Result: The prevalence of cervical incompetence in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital is 0.69% or 6.9 per 1000 deliveries. The mean age of the patients was 32.4 SD 3.7, and majority (53.1%) were nulliparous. Most of the patients 47 (49%) had secondary level of education. There were 87 (90.6) elective and 9 (9.4%) emergency cases of cerclage insertion. The commonest type of anaesthesia used was regional (subarachnoid block) 89 (92.7%). All the patients had MacDonald procedure with mersilene tape. The mean gestational age and duration of cerclage insertion was 15.2 weeks (95% CI, 14.8 to 15.6) and 15.1 minutes (95% CI, 13.1 to 17.1) respectively.
Conclusion: Cervical incompetence is not uncommon in our region. Cervical cerclage placement is beneficial in managing cervical incompetence. The duration of the procedure is short with minimal blood loss.

Keywords: Cervical incompetence, Cervical cerclage, Prevalence, RSUTH, South –South.

Cite this article: Wekere FCC, Clement-Wekere GAF, Nonye-Enyidah EI. Cervical incompetence: prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria. Yen Med J. 2020;2(1):127-134.

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