Pattern of childhood gynaecological presentations in a Nigerian tertiary health facility

Gynaecological problems in children and adolescents are often both medically and psychologically unique and require a highly skilled approach differing from those utilized for an adult female population. There is paucity of data on childhood gynaecological problems in our environment. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and pattern of common gynaecological problems in the prepubertal child at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Northern Nigeria.

This was a retrospective study involving case file-based data analysis over a 10-year period (1995-2004) of 62 children aged 1 month-12 years at the Gynaecology unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Northern Nigeria.

Sixty-two children were seen, 17 infants, 14 under 5 years of age, and the rest (31) were aged 6-12 years. The commonest condition was labial fusion (33.9%), urethral prolapse (14.5%), and suspected sexual assault (12%). Ambiguous genitalia (9.7%), vaginitis (6.5 %), and ovarian tumour (4.8%) were also encountered.

Labial fusion, urethral prolapse, and suspected sexual assault are the commonest childhood gynaecological morbidities in Zaria. Provision of gynaecological services at every level of health care system to cater for young females is advocated.