title: Trends in the use of female sterilisation through minilaparotomy for contraception at a teaching hospital in north central Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female sterilisation is the most widely used method of contraception worldwide. However, only a small proportion of contraceptors are reported to rely on female sterilisation in Nigeria. Continuous reviews of trends in its use are necessary to develop policies that will improve uptake in the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the volume and trends in the use of female sterilisation through minilaparotomy as a method of contraception in a Nigerian university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of women who had sterilisation through minilaparotomy over a ten year period were reviewed for socialdemographic characteristics, reasons for undergoing sterilisation, timing of the procedure, surgical method used and complications recorded. This is too sketchy
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female sterilisation through minilaparotomy accounted for 95 (0.8%) of the 12,035 total contraceptive use during the period. The rate decreased from 1.5% of total contraceptive use in 1995 to 0.22% in 2003. Eighty two (86.4%) of the female sterilisation acceptors were aged 35 years and above, 46 (48.4%) had no or only primary education and 42 (44.2%) were petty traders. Sixty six (69.5%) of the women were grandmultiparae and 70 (73.7%) had more children than they desired. Seventy three (76.8%) had used other contraceptive methods before sterilisation. The average cost of female sterilisation through minilaparotomy in our hospital was USD25 and this was significantly more than the cost of other contraceptives, and more than hospital charges for normal vaginal delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of contraceptive acceptors who rely on female sterilisation is low in our environment and has steadily declined over the years. The higher cost of the procedure as compared to other contraceptives appears to be the main barrier. Reduction or outright elimination of cost will probably act as incentive for women to choose female sterilisation as a method of contraception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Federal Medical Center, P.M.B. 201, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Nigeria.
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Abiodun
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Esuga
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fawole
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jimoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009549:Nigeria; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends