Female sterilization by minilaparotomy: The University of Nigeria teaching hospital experience

Abstract

During the period covered by this study (October 1987 to December, 1993), 8612 clients were counseled and accepted a contraceptive method. Of this number, a total of 456 (5.3%) female sterilizations (Bilateral tubal ligation) were done. Minilaparotomy sterilization constituted 3.6% of the total and these 312 clients formed the basis of this study. In 87% of the clients, there was either primary or no formal education, while 47% of the clients had used another form of contraception before deciding for sterilization. Self referral was the commonest source of referral to the clinic. The main indication for minilaparotomy sterilization were completed family size (84.6%), economic conditions (11.9%) and health reasons (3.5%). Majority of the clients were grand muciparous women in their thirties. The mean age and parity at sterilization were 35 years and Para 8 respectively. In 85% of the clients, there was an interval procedure and local infiltration with or without sedation as the anaesthetic technique of choice. There was no anaesthetic complication in this study while complication attributable to the procedure occurred in only 1.6% of the clients with wound sepsis as the commonest The increasing demand for minilaparotomy bilateral tubal ligation which is simple, safe, effective and inexpensive calls for training of more personnel to meet this need.

Keywords

• female sterilization
• minilaparotomy
• tubal ligation