An audit of interval female sterilisation by minilaparotomy at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Female sterilisation is a widely accepted and practiced family planning method. This study aimed at ascertaining the complications that followed interval minilaparotomy at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a 5-year period. Only women who requested sterilisation for family planning purposes were included in the study. There were 135 patients who had interval female sterilisation. Of these, 119 (88.1%) case files were available for analysis. The mean age at sterilisation was 38.2 ± 3.8 years, mean parity of 7 ± 2.0 and the mean number of living children at the time of the procedure was 6.5 ± 1.4. The mean duration of the procedure was 42.35 ± 13.07 min. The most receptive clientele for interval female sterilisation were 35 years or older and were grand multiparous. Women in the lowest Class (V) were least likely to accept female sterilisation in this study. Complications arising from the procedure were mostly minor, hence it is adjudged safe. There were no failed procedures in this study and only one of the patients had regrets about the procedure.

Keywords::

• Audit
• female sterilisation
• minilaparotomy

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.