The Value of Mobile Ultrasound Services in Rural Communities in South-South Nigeria

Anthonia Ikpeme; Nchiewe Ani; Boniface Ago; Emmanuel Effa; Omofolasade Kosoko-Lasaki; Andrew Ekpenyong

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.191

Authors

Anthonia Ikpeme Department of Radiology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Nchiewe Ani Department of Radiology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Boniface Ago Department of 0bstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Emmanuel Effa Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Omofolasade Kosoko-Lasaki Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 681 78
Andrew Ekpenyong Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 681 78

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2017.191

Keywords:

Mobile ultrasound, Abdomino-pelvic scans, Uterine fibroids, Prostatic enlargement

Abstract

AIM: This paper examines the activities of mobile services units including ultrasound services in rural and urban communities in the Calabar region of South-South, Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consenting individuals were invited and attended five medical outreach activities in rural and urban areas of the Calabar region between January and June 2016. Abdomino-pelvic scans were done. Subsequently the results were analyzed.

RESULTS: Five hundred and seventy-four (574) individuals had Abdomino-pelvic scans done, using a curvilinear probe to assess the abdomino-pelvic organs. The female to male ratio was 1.46:1. The age ranged from 1-78 years with a mean of 40.63 (standard deviation of 17.5). The commonest sonographic finding was uterine fibroids, 21 (8.1%). Fifty-four percent of the scans were normal. The commonest sonographic finding in men was prostatic enlargement.

CONCLUSION: Medical outreach activities provided by mobile units provide much needed ultrasound services in poor resource settings in Nigeria. Significant clinical pathologies were identified at fairly high rates.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Ostensen H. Developing Countries. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2000; (26 Suppl 1): 159-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-5629(00)00194-0

Goldberg BB, Gramiak R, Freimans AK. Early History of Diagnostic Ultrasound. The Role of American Radiologists. AJR. 1993; 160: 189-197. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.160.1.8416623 PMid:8416623

Carovac A, Smajlovic F, Junuzovic D. Application of Ultrasound in Medicine. Acta Inform Med. 2001; 19(3): 168-171. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2011.19.168-171 PMid:23408755 PMCid:PMC3564184

Iliyasu G, Ogoina D, Otu AA, Dayyab FM, Habib AG. Multi-Site Knowledge Attitude and Practice Survey of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. PLos One. 2015;10(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135955 PMid:26317535 PMCid:PMC4552659

Sippel S, Muruganandan K, Shah S. Review article: Use of Ultrasound in the Developing World. Int J Emerg Med. 2011; 4:7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1865-1380-4-72 PMid:22152055 PMCid:PMC3285529

Ault MJ, Rosen BT. Portable Ultrasound; the next generation arrives. Crit Ultrasound J. 2010;2(1): 39-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13089-010-0031-6 PMid:21151494 PMCid:PMC2994643

Liang D, Schnittger I. Accuracy of hand-carried Ultrasound. Echocardiography. 2003; 20(5): 487-490. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1540-8175.2003.03072.x PMid:12848872

Gorcsan J. Hand-carried Ultrasound for Consultative Cardiology. Echocardiography. 2003; 20(5): 463469. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1540-8175.2003.03082.x

Director General, World Health Organization: World Health Report: Fighting Disease, Fostering Development. WHO, Geneva vi, 1996.

World Health Organization. Baseline Country Survey on Medical Devices 2010. Geneva: WHO press, 2011.

West DM. Using Mobile Technology to Improve Maternal Health and Fight Ebola: A case study of mobile innovation in Nigeria, 2015.

Filkins M, Halliday S, Daniels B, Bista R, Thapa S, Schwarz R, Schwars D, Guuchan BK, Maru D. Implementing Diagnostic Imaging Services in a Rural Setting of Extreme Poverty: five years of x-ray and ultrasound service delivery in Achham Nepal J Glob Radiol. 2015; 1(1): Article 2.

Wright EE, Schellekens O. Achieving Universal Health coverage in Nigeria one State at a time. Brookings Global Economy and Development, June, 2013.

Ekpenyong A, Effa E, Ikpeme A, Inyama M, Ago B, Ekpenyong T, Out A, Ani N, Egbe W, Tom EA, Prathivadhi S, Nichols M, Kosoko-Lasaki S. Mobile Clinics Deployed in Rural Nigeria for free Patient Care and Clinical Research. Global Health Conference Midwest Research Symposium. Omaha, NE. 2016;pg. 18.

"Institutions". National Board for Technical Education. Retrieved 2010-03-20.

Nwabueze BO. A constitutional History of Nigeria. C Hurst and Co LTD, UK, 1982.

Baird DD, Dunson DB, Hill MC, Cousins D, Schectman JM. High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: ultrasound evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;188(1):100. https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2003.99 PMid:12548202

Shah SP, Epino H, Bukhman G, Umulisa I, Dushimiyimana JM, Reichman A, Noble VE. Impact of the introduction of ultrasound services in a limited resource setting: rural Rwanda 2008. BMC international health and human rights. 2009;9(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-698X-9-4 PMid:19327157 PMCid:PMC2667437

Eze JC, Ugwu AC, Ohagwu CC, Imoh OC. The value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis leiomyoma in the South East Nigeria. Journal of Asian Scientific Research. 2013; 3(2): 151-156.

Szlark JE, Choi TH, Vithya VV. Imaging of common and uncommon large pelvic masses. Radiographics. 2003; 23:403-424. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.232025089 PMid:12640156

Taran FA, Brown HL, Stewart EA. Racial diversity in uterine leiomyoma clinical studies. Fertile Steril. 2010; 94:1500-1503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.08.037 PMid:19969296

Zimmermann A, Bernuit D, Gerlinger C, Schaefers M, Geppert K. Prevalence, symptoms and management of uterine fibroids: An International Internet-based survey of 21,746 women. BMC Women's Health. 2012; 12:6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-12-6 PMid:22448610 PMCid:PMC3342149

Shah SP, Epino H, Bukhman G, Umulisa I, Dushimiyimana JM, Reichman A, Noble VE. Impact of the introduction of ultrasound services in a limited resource setting: rural Rwanda 2008. BMC international health and human rights. 2009;9(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-698X-9-4 PMid:19327157 PMCid:PMC2667437

Ma'aji SM, Adamu B. Transabdominal Ultrasonogrpahic assessment of prostate size and volume in Nigerians with Clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Niger J Iliin Pract. 2013; 16:404. https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-3077.113476 PMid:23771473

Ajayi I, Aremu A, Olajide A, Bello T, Olajide F, Adetiloye V. Correlation of transrectal and transabodominal ultrasound measurement of transition zone volume with post-operative enucleated adenoma volume in benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2013;16. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.16.149.2532

Tahir A. Ahidjo A. Variation of prostatic volume with advancing adult Nigerians. Arch Nig Med. 2004; 1:12-14.

Stanton K, Mwanri L. Global Maternal and Child Health Outcomes: the role of obstetric ultrasound in low resource settings. World Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2013;1(3):22-9.

Ali QN, Roth J, Abdel-Rahum IM, Franke D, Kardoff R, Schwasforth H, Doehring E. Cost saving with ultrasonography in a developing country district hospital. East Afr Med. J. 1999; 76(5):272-4. PMid:10750508