Outpatient interval female sterilization at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Between September 1975 and April 1981,258 patients were sterilized at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, using minilaparotomy and laparoscopy. Selected sociodemographic data as well as the technical and surgical difficulties encountered have been reviewed in this article. The mean age at sterilization was 38.3 years whilst the mean parity was 7.2. In all, there were 215 minilaparotomy sterilizations and forty-three laparoscopic sterilizations. Surgical difficulties were reported for 12.1% of minilaparotomy and 11.6% for laparoscopic procedures. The most frequently reported difficulties were obesity and pelvic adhesions. The failure rates were 1.4% for minilaparotomy and 2.3% for laparoscopy