International Journal of Reproductive Medicine
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Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Myomectomy-Associated Blood Loss among Patients with Uterine Myomas at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki: A Randomized Control Trial

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International Journal of Reproductive Medicine publishes original research and review articles on reproductive medicine.

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International Journal of Reproductive Medicine maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

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Review Article

The Disposal of Placenta among Indigenous Groups Globally: An Integrative Literature Review

Introduction. The placenta, or afterbirth, plays a vital role in supplying nutrients and oxygen via the umbilical cord. Western medicine sees the placenta as a medical waste and discards it after delivery. Meanwhile, indigenous groups observe rituals or ceremonies prior to their disposal since it bears sacred importance. Aim. The aim of the literature review is to review the current literature on indigenous methods of disposing placenta. Methods. Through the EBSCOhost search engine, the authors had access to the following databases: CINAHL; MEDLINE; E-Journals; Health Sources: Nursing/Academic Edition; Scopus; and African Journals Online. A manual search of the grey literature through Google Scholar and Google Search engines, as well as citation searching using reference lists, was also used. The following keyword searches came up: placental disposal, placental waste, placental release, indigenous placental disposal, traditional placental disposal, cultural placenta, and placental rituals. The authors followed the inclusion criteria of qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research articles or reports from experts and different organisations published between 2013 and 2022 in English. Findings. The following three themes with subthemes emerged in the context of this review paper: (1) placental consumption (increases milk production, prevents postpartum depression, and prevents postpartum bleeding); (2) placental burial (burial site determines the child’s fate, protection of the child, and fertility); and 3). artifacts (memorabilia). Conclusion. Indigenous placental disposal methods have a significant value to Indigenous women globally. The rituals performed have a special meaning attached to them. It is important for Western medicine to respect and support indigenous placental disposal methods and ensure safe handling from the healthcare facilities to their homes.

Research Article

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Syphilis among Mothers with Missed Opportunities for Antenatal Syphilis Testing in Rural Western Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Early prenatal syphilis testing and treatment are essential preventative measures for maternal syphilis and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes of pregnancy; however, data shows that two-thirds of all cases are missed among women who visit prenatal care center at least once but are not tested for syphilis. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing in rural western Uganda delivered at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH). Methods. A cross-sectional study was done during the period from April 2022 to June 2022. A total of 124 participants had been recruited consecutively from postnatal ward of FRRH. Pretested questionnaires were used to obtain information on data required for analysis. Venous blood sampling (2 ml taken from the forearm using anticoagulant free vacutainer) was done for all mothers who missed opportunity for prenatal syphilis testing using both RPR and TPHA. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0. Results. The prevalence of syphilis infection was 27 (21.8%). After adjusted analysis, having more than one sexual partners in the past one year was associated with higher odds of syphilis infection (, 95% CI: 4.462-139.201, ), and staying with the partner was found to be associated with lower odds of syphilis infection (, 95% CI: 0.040-1.142, ). Conclusions. The study identified high prevalence of syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing, and this was positively associated with having more than one sexual partners in the past one year and negatively associated with not staying with partner.

Research Article

Prevalence and Determinants of Premarital Sexual Practice among Youths in Ethiopia: Based on the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey Data

Background. Premarital sexual practice becomes a common phenomenon among youths in Ethiopia. It is usually associated with unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Objective. This study is aimed at assessing the magnitude and determinants of premarital sexual practice among Ethiopian youths. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in all regions of Ethiopia from January 18 to June 27, 2016. A total of 7389 youths with the age range from 19 to 24 were included in the present study. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with premarital sex. A 95% CI and value < 0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Result. The prevalence of premarital sexual practice was 10.8% (95% CI, 10%–11.5%). Being in the age group of 20-24 (, 95% CI (2.8, 4.6)), male sex (, 95% CI (1.3, 2.2)), employed (, 95% CI (1.03, 1.8)), from pastoral region (, 95% CI (1.3,2.4)), having mobile phone (, 95% CI, (1.3, 2.3)), ever use of internet (, 95% CI (1.3, 2.5)), ever drinking alcohol (, 95% CI (1.7, 2.5)), ever chewed khat (, 95% CI (1.6, 3.5), and ever tested for HIV (, 95% CI (1.1,1.6)) were statistically significant factors associated with premarital sex. Conclusion. For every 10 youths, at least one of them had sexual intercourse before they got married. Being in the age group of 20-24, male sex, employed, from a pastoral region, having a mobile phone, ever use of the internet, alcohol drinking, khat chewing, and ever tested for HIV were important factors affecting premarital sex. Thus, national sexual education and reproductive health behavior change interventions should give due attention to those groups. Furthermore, adequate education should be given about premarital sexual intercourse when youths come for HIV tests.

Research Article

Prevalence of Rape and Its Predictors among Female Students Attending Elementary Schools: In the Case of Kule Refugee Camp, Gambella, Southwest Ethiopia—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Tragically, rape victims keep their ailments a secret from the police and their family members or significant others out of concern for societal stigma. The prevalence and severity of rape are highest among minorities, including girls and children who live as refugees. The current study assessed the prevalence of rape and its predictors among female students attending elementary schools in the Kule refugee camp, Gambella, southwest Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 15 to 25, 2022, using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. A total of 211 participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The collected data were entered into EpiData and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The descriptive statistics were presented using frequencies, means, and standard deviations. A binary logistic regression model was used to test the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. The multivariable analysis included variables with values of less than 0.25. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a value of less than 0.05. Results. A total of 210 participants were involved in this study, which has a 99.5% response rate. Of these, 73 (34.8%) were subjected to rape. Shockingly, the majority (79.5%) of those who experienced rape reported that their perpetrator did not use a condom. Smoking (AOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.61, 10.93), drinking alcohol (AOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.43, 7.03), and having a boyfriend (AOR: 2.81; 95% CI: 21, 4.05) were found to be factors associated with rape. Conclusion. This study found a high prevalence of rape in the study area. The study also identified that participants’ behaviors, such as having a boyfriend, smoking, and drinking alcohol, predispose them to rape. Therefore, we recommend that the camp’s administrative bodies and humanitarian service organizations strengthen the preventive measures against rape crime, including the reinforcement of solid laws against perpetrators.

Research Article

“I Don’t Support It for My Children”: Perceptions of Parents and Guardians regarding the Use of Modern Contraceptives by Adolescents in Arua City, Uganda

Despite the high rates of adolescent pregnancies, the utilization of modern contraceptives is still low among adolescents in Uganda which highlights a missed opportunity for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies among adolescents. We explored the perception of parents and guardians regarding the use of modern contraceptives by adolescents and the roles parents and guardians play in the use of modern contraceptives by the adolescents. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in one of the suburbs of Arua city in the West Nile subregion in Uganda. Fifteen (15) in-depth interviews were conducted with parents and or guardians to explore their perceptions and roles regarding the use of modern contraceptives by adolescents. Thematic analysis was used in qualitative data analysis. Parents did not support adolescents’ use of modern contraceptives. Lack of parental support was related to perceptions that modern contraceptives promote sexual promiscuity, fear that it causes infertility and that it is incompatible with cultural, religious, and moral norms. Parents and guardians opted to emphasize the importance of abstinence, conformity with cultural and religious norms, and the need to focus on completing school instead of encouraging the use of modern contraceptives. Few parents and guardians supported the use of modern contraceptives, specifically condoms, to prevent unwanted pregnancy by the adolescents and parents/guardians, sexually transmitted infections, and early school dropouts. Parents and guardians expressed feelings of inadequacy related to discussions on contraception use with their adolescent children and therefore avoided talking about it. Our study reveals a lack of parental support regarding the use of modern contraceptives among adolescents. Public health interventions which promote intergenerational, socioculturally, and religiously appropriate communication should be instituted in the communities in order to promote sustainable adoption of modern contraceptive use among adolescents.

Research Article

Women’s Satisfaction with Abortion Care and Associated Factors in Public Health Facilities of Mojo Town, East Ethiopia

Background. Client satisfaction is an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality of health care as it affects clinical outcomes, patient retention, and medical malpractice claims. To limit unintended pregnancies and avoid repeated abortions promoting abortion care services is crucial. In Ethiopia, problems related to abortion were neglected, and access to quality abortion care was very limited. Similarly, information related to abortion care service, particularly clients’ satisfaction, and associated factors are limited in the study area that the study will be going to fill. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed on 255 women who came for abortion service in public health facilities of Mojo town and were included consecutively. The data was coded and entered into Epi info version 7 software and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify the associated factors. Model fitness and multicollinearity were checked by using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test and the variance inflation factor (VIF). Adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence were reported. Results. A total of 255 study subjects were included in this study with a 100% response rate. The study depicted that 56.5% (95% CI: 51.3, 61.7 of the clients were satisfied with abortion care service. Having college and above educational level (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: (0.14, 0.95), employee occupation (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: (1.41, 2.93), medical abortion as a type of uterine evacuation (AOR: 3.93; 95% CI: (1.75, 8.83), and natural method of family planning users (AOR: 0.36; 95% CI: (0.08, 0.60) were factors associated with women’s satisfaction. Conclusion. The overall satisfaction towards abortion care was considerably lower. Waiting time, cleanness of rooms, lack of laboratory service, and availability of service providers are mentioned factors for client dissatisfaction.

International Journal of Reproductive Medicine
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate7%
Submission to final decision192 days
Acceptance to publication19 days
CiteScore-
Journal Citation Indicator-
Impact Factor-
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