Knowledge and Usage of Emergency Contraceptives Among University Students in Ghana

Contraceptive use is an important strategy for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and avoidance of induced abortion. Of all the contraception methods, emergency contraceptive (EC) offers the last chance to achieve this. However, few studies have documented the use of EC among young people in Ghana. This study explored knowledge and usage of EC as well as the factors associated with it among University of Cape Coast students. Data were obtained on the knowledge and usage of ECs among University of Cape Coast students in 2013. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between students’ socio-demographic characteristics and EC knowledge and use. More male students (72 %) than females (59 %) were sexually active. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents had ever heard of EC and 36 % had ever used EC. Although males were more likely to be sexually active, females were more likely to have knowledge of EC use compared to males. The study underscores the need to increase awareness regarding EC among University students in order to offer them the opportunity that EC provides if other forms of contraceptives are missed.     

Esophageal Calibration with Soft Orogasrtric Tube During Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication may Reduce Postoperative Transient Dysphagia

Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common benign disorder of the esophagus and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become the standard surgical treatment for its treatment. In our area, where the use of bougie calibration is debatable, postoperative dysphagia is encountered often after this surgery although it is usually not permanent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using a soft silicone tube 39 F in diameter for esophageal calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia. We divided cases scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between January 2009 and November 2010 into two groups, each consisting 25 patients. Esophageal calibration with a 39 F silicone orogastric tube was used for the first group while there was no operative calibration in the second group. The surgical duration was recorded; the presence and severity of the postoperative dysphagia was calculated by using a dysphagia severity scoring system during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. The dysphagia severity scores were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 on the postoperative second day and at the end of the first week and first month. We did not find a significant difference at the end of the 6-month and first year. There was also no significant difference regarding surgery duration. The use of a soft orogastric tube 39 F in diameter for esophagus calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative transient dysphagia without affecting the duration of surgery. Although dysphagia gradually resolves in the majority of patients, a safe and easy calibration method for its prevention is worth developing, and we believe that the use of our method in larger series could be beneficial.     

Effects of bimatoprost 0.03% on ocular hemodynamics in normal tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bimatoprost 0.03% on ocular hemodynamics in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: Twenty-two (22) patients with NTG were consecutively recruited. After basic eye examination and diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, color Doppler imaging was used to measure the peak systolic and end diastolic velocities and resistive index of the central retinal, lateral posterior ciliary, and medial posterior ciliary arteries. Patients received bimatoprost 0.03% for 4 weeks, and these measurements were then repeated. The worse eye of each NTG patient was used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Bimatoprost 0.03% significantly reduced mean IOP from 15.1 +/- 3.8 mmHg at baseline to 12.0 +/- 2.9 mmHg after treatment in our sample of NTG patients (P < 0.001). No significant changes in blood velocities or resistance indices were observed in the retrobulbar vessels after the 4-week treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Topical bimatoprost 0.03% significantly reduced IOP in our NTG patients without causing significant hemodynamic changes in the retrobulbar vessels.