title: A five year review of ectopic pregnancy at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, South East, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ectopic pregnancy remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester of pregnancy in developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence, pattern of presentation and management of ectopic pregnancies at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective descriptive study of all cases of ectopic gestations managed at FMC Owerri between 1st January 2009 and 31st December, 2013. The case notes were retrieved from the hospital's Records Department and information on socio-demographic characteristics, age, and parity, clinical presentation, findings at laparotomy, estimated blood loss and the need for blood transfusion were obtained. Data were entered into SPSS 17.0 and analysed descriptively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 382 cases of ectopic gestations out of the total 9880 total deliveries within the study period. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 38.66 per 1,000 live births or I in 26 deliveries. Nulliparous women were 132 (34.5%). At presentation, 99.47% of patients had rupture with haemoperitoneum, with the commonest site being the ampulla of the fallopian tube as seen in 338 (88.4%). Salpingectomy was done in majority of cases, accounting for 355 (93%), while 248 (65%) had blood transfusion. Five (1.3%) maternal deaths occurred during period of study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ectopic pregnancy presents a major public health challenge among women of reproductive age groups in Nigeria. Efforts should be directed to public awareness on sex education, contraception, prevention and treatment of common risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.
authors.forename: Amajuoyi C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onyegbule
authors.lastname: Onyema
authors.forename: Ejelonu T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Uchenna
authors.forename: Onyeabochukwu A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Duke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies