Meconium passage in-utero and its subsequent staining of the amniotic fluid and the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) are common occurrences faced by health workers/health care providers. Un fortunately, our knowledge of the pathophysiological stimuli in the fetus that govern the passage of meconium is response to stress, as well as our understanding of MAS as a clinical entity is still incomplete. Since MAS remains very much with u s, we have attempted in this review paper to lay emphasis upon the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the problem(s), and harp on the management strategies- particularly on modalities of reducing the severity of an established disease or its overall prevention. In this regard, for example, because the incidence of cardiorespiratory depression and asphyxia are significantly inreased in cases complicated by both meconium passage and fetal heart rate abnormalities, we feel it is preferable to monitor very closely such fetuses prior to/during labour, with skilled peri- ' and neo-natal resuscitation. at ultimate delivery to avoid MAS. It is easier preventing then treating this morbidity.

This article reviews the socio-economic implications and consequences of the spreading HIVIAIDS epidemic. We pose the question of the potential effect of massive epidemic in Nigeria on th rest of the African countries considering its economic, political, and social influence in the region. main aim is to sensitize the general public from the socio-economic perspective to the magnitude of the problem and particularly policy-makers, to the implications of the problems. This we believe should enhance greater commitment in terms of will, planning and adequate funding of strategies to stem the epidemic. generated are envisaged as useful tool for health workers in community mobilisation and for participation in control of the epidemic.

A total of 65 tumours of the eye and ocular adnexa were reported between 1987 and 1996. Sixty-six (19 cases) were malignant and forty-four percent (26 cases) benign. The malignant tumours showed a male preponderance; male:female (MIF) ratio 1.8:1 while the benign neoplasms exhibited a slight female preponderance; 1:1.4. age distribution revealed a bimodal pattern with a higher peak in the first decade and a smaller peak in the fifth. Burkitt's lymphoma emerged the commonest ophthalmic tumour accounting for 18.5% (12 cases) with a mean age at diagnosis of7.9 years while squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the commonest adult ophthalmic malignancy comprising 16.9% (11 cases) Squamous papilloma was the commonest benign orbito-ocular tumour while retinoblastoma was the commonest intraocular tumour. for Burkitt's and SCC were comparable to other Nigerian centres while retinoblastomas revealed relatively lower occurrence

It is believed that any physically strenuous activity a woman undertakes could affect her traditional role of child bearing and child rearing either positively or negatively. This study was elaborate to assess the effect of agricultural work load on child care and child health among women agricultural workers. The study was a cross­ sectional type with a sample size of 400 women selected using a two stage cluster sampling technique and divided into sub-groups according to their agricultural work profile. The results show vividly that child care and child health suffer adversely in the face of heavy agricultural workload. More studies in this field is therefore advocated in order to fully evaluate the impact of other physically stressful activities of mothers on the health and care of their children.

A retrospective review of the records of all women who attended a Medical Women Centre for cervical cancer screening over a two-year period was carried out. Out of a total of 431 women screened at the centre during this period, the target age group (35 years and above) accounted for 56%. Majority of the women were within the 3-5 parity group and mainly from the low socio-economic segment of the population. 63% of the smears were found to be inflammatory, 2% were classified as invasive cervical cancer while 11% were classified as cervical intra­ epithelia/neoplasia. It is recommended that appropriate Information, Education and Communication should be directed at the women at risk of cervical cancer both within and outside the public health care system. There is also the need for clearly defined policy on cervical cancer screening in Nigeria.

A retrospective study of the pattern of congestive cardiac failure (CCF) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto between the 1st of January 1995 and 31st December, 1996 was carried out. 66 cases of congestive cardiac failure (CCF) were admitted into the medical wards of UDUTH. They included 35"!f!_les (53%) and 31 females (47%), majority of them coming from the indigenous Hausa Community, 58%, with the Fulanis, 6.1% ranking a distant second. Housewives formed the majority of the cases; (40%jollowed by farme. 8.8%. In 30.3% of the cases, the cause ofCCF could not be identified. In another 30.3% of the cases, hypertension was the cause followed by anaemia 13.6%; and valvular heart disease 10.6%. December was the month with the highest numbers of patients; I6.67% while the lowest number of patients presented in January (3.03%). Pooled together, majority of the patients presented between the months of July and September, 36.38% with (12.12%) of the patients presenting in each of these months. Overall mortality rate was 10.6% with a higher mortality rate among the females 13.33% as against 8.33% among the males.

Values of peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) in 1009 normal adult Nigerians, made up of 668 males and 341 females between the ages of 15 and 82 years, living and/or working in Port harcourt and its environs were obtained. Pearson's correlation coefficient between PEF and age as well as other anthropometric measurements were calculated in both male and female subjects. Multiple regression analyses were done to obtain the best prediction formulae using the measured variables in both male and female subjects. Furthermore, graphs were plotted to show the variation of PEF with age in male and female subjects with specific heights. Data for plotting the graphs were generated using the prediction formula generated from this study and other prediction formulae generated from previous studies among Nigerians and Caucasians, whose best prediction formulae incorporated height and age. The graphs illustrate the limitations of applying formulae derived from a different race and/or generation to an entirely different people with dissimilar characteristics: This lends credence to the need to make use of recent locally generated formulae for local predictions.

Two thousand four hundred out of three thousand, two hundred and twenty babies delivered at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, between 1995 and 1997, were recruited into the study. Of these, 1,800 (75%) were eventually analysed; of which 1,020 (56.7%) were exclusively breast fed. Seven hundred and eighty (43.3%0 babies were not exclusively breast fed of which four hundred (51.3%) had water in addition to breast milk, water and other breast milk substitutes. patients were those that were full term and healthy at delivery with appropriate for gestational age, birth weight and delivered vaginaly. Babies exclusively breast fed had daily weight gain that ranged between 50 and do grams and monthly weight gain of between 700 and 1,220 grams. These babies also doubled their birth weight at between 56 days (2 months) and 84 days (3 months) of life and tripled their birthweight at between the ages of 140 days (5 months) and 168 (6 months). ies not exclusively breastfed had a daily weight gain that ranged between 12 and 70 grams and monthly weight gain of between 400 and 800 gm. Such babies doubled their birthweight at 168 days (6 months) of life. The study has shown that babies exclusively breastfed show greater weight gain than those not exclusively breastfed.

This study involved one hundred and nine children of a deaf school in Ibadan, Nigeria. They were evaluated for ear conditions and types, and degree of hearing loss. The most prevalent ear ailments were impacted wax (39.4%), secretary otitis media (15.6%) and suppurative otitis media (2.8%). Forty one percent had severe hearing loss while 44.9% had profound hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss accounted for 88.1% while the rest of the students had mixed hearing loss. The need for continuous check up of the deaf children by the_ otorhinolaryngologist is advised. This will enhance expert handling and prompt dispensation of appropriate treatment.

This was a case of a 2,270g, small-for-gestational age baby with annular pancreas and duodenal atresia which was suggested prenatally from ultrasound scan findings. He had a duodeno-duodenostomy performed within 48 hours of birth, and had an uneventful postnatal course. These finding were further com pounded with the exceeding rarity of their being associated with first-degree hypospadias and chordee

We report a case of spontaneous dehiscence -of an incisional hernia. A 30--year old women was brought to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with ruptured incisional hernia and small intestinal evisceration. She had no history of abdominal trauma. The hernia was successfully repaired with no recurrence 3 years after repai1: Prevention of incisional hernias should be the concern of all surgeons. Also, a case is made for the repair of incisional hernias especially in our environment.