Vaginal injuries during coitus in Calabar: a 10-year review.
Injuries during coitus could result in considerable morbidity and mortality in women. Identifying their pattern of presentation and predisposing factors will aid in their prevention.


METHODS
A descriptive study of patients with coital injuries seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (U.C.T.H) Calabar, between 1991 and 2000, with data obtained from case records.


RESULTS
Coital injuries constituted 0.7/1000 gynaecological emergencies. Rape (68.0%) was the commonest aetiological factor. It was more common in nulliparous patients (88.0%) and toddlers and teenagers formed the age group most affected. The lower vagina was the most common site of injury (44.0%). Vaginal bleeding was the commonest mode of presentation and hypovolaemic shock, the most common complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Rape is the commonest cause of coital injury in Calabar. Coital injuries should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all cases of abnormal vaginal bleeding particularly in children.
Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. animan74@yahoo.com
Aniekan M
AM
Abasiattai
Saturday J
SJ
Etuk
Emem A
EA
Bassey
Etetim E J
EE
Asuquo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010298:Parity; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000293:injuries*