title: The perception and use of chaperones by Nigerian gynecologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how Nigerian gynecologists perceive and use chaperones during intimate gynecologic examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of Nigerian gynecologists was conducted with the aid of self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 97.6% of respondents considered the use of a chaperone necessary during intimate gynecologic examinations and recommended that the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) should endorse the routine offer of chaperones for such examinations. However, just 35.9% of male physicians always or often used chaperones, while 76.9% of female physicians used chaperones only under special circumstances. No female physician always or often used a chaperone during pelvic examination. The main obstacles to the use of chaperones were scarcity of personnel to serve in this capacity (87.6%) and patients' refusal to be examined in the presence of a third party (12.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most Nigerian gynecologists use chaperones at least some of the time and also support a policy of routinely offering chaperones during intimate gynecologic examination while respecting patients' right to decline this offer. Scarcity of personnel to serve as chaperones is the greatest challenge to the implementation of this policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria. drponkwo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Nkwo
authors.forename: Chibuike O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Chigbu
authors.forename: Leonard O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ajah
authors.forename: Onyemaechi S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Okoro
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061348:Medical Chaperones / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009549:Nigeria; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D028701:Patient Rights; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires