Thousands of Nigerian women die daily
from different medical conditions that are largely preventable and
treatable, with the presence of well-equipped health facilities manned
by experienced health workers. In this article, we are looking at the
top 10 diseases killing Nigerian women and what they can do to protect
themselves.
1. Obstetric hemorrhage This is the
number one cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria. Statically, Maternal
Mortality Ratio (MMR) ranges from 166-1549 per 100 000 live births with a
national average of about 1000/100 000 live births (FMOH 2001).
Obstetric hemorrhage can be defined as bleeding that occurs before the
onset of labour, during delivery and within 24 hours after vaginal or
caesarean delivery. We must all join hands and fight to reduce maternal
mortality. All pregnant women must ensure that they only patronize
adequate health facilities manned by well-trained medical staff. All
deliveries must be handled in secondary/ tertiary health facilities
because every woman deserves to have a safe delivery.
2. Malaria during pregnancy Malaria is
caused by plasmodium spp with anopheles mosquitoes as the vector. Its
incidence and severity is even higher in pregnant women where it is
responsible for 63% of all clinic attendance, 11% of all maternal deaths
and 70.5% of morbidity in pregnant women. Although there have been
several measures put in place to curb malaria, the disease has continued
to ravage the lives of many. Pregnant women must protect themselves by
sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito net, keeping the environment
clean and free from stagnant water. They should also present themselves
for adequate and prompt treatment by a trained health personnel.
3. Hypertensive diseases in pregnancy
including Pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia About 11% of maternal deaths are due
to hypertensive disease and about 7% of pregnancies are complicated by
this condition. This disease is a spectrum that includes all clinical
conditions characterized by the presence of systemic hypertension and/or
significant proteinuria (protein in the urine) during pregnancy. A
blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg is usually termed as significant. Also,
pre-eclampsia is a clinical condition in pregnancy characterized by
hypertension, significant proteinuria with or without swelling of the
legs occurring after 20 weeks of gestation while eclampsia, a more
severe form or pre-eclampsia is complicated by series of convulsions
(fits). Together, these conditions are amongst the top 10 diseases
killing Nigerian women. It is advised that all pregnant women should
attend antenatal care for early diagnosis and treatment.
4. Breast cancer Breast cancer is the
commonest cancer worldwide and every year, it is a top disease that
kills Nigerian women. It is an uncontrolled growth of normal breast
cells leading to lumps in the breast with associated destruction of
breast tissue and metastasis to distant organs. Each year, more than 1
million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed worldwide. In Nigeria,
breast cancer accounts for about 16% of all cancer deaths in women. The
burden of breast cancer is high in Nigeria which has a low awareness
level among women. The outcome of breast cancer is usually poor in
Nigeria because of late presentation (advanced cancer) and lack of
adequate medical facilities. Nigerian women can protect themselves from
this disease by monthly self-breast examination (SBE) for lumps. The
presence of any lump should necessitate prompt medical evaluation by a
physician.
5. Cervical cancer Cervical cancer is
the second most common female cancer worldwide but more than 70% of
cases are seen in developing countries. In Nigeria, it is the second
most common cancer affecting women, it has an incidence of 250/100,000
women, 9922 new cases are diagnosed yearly with more than 8,000 deaths
yearly. However, cervical cancer can remain in a premalignant stage for
up to 15 years before turning to cervical cancer. With lack of
awareness, low socioeconomic status and poor health care seeking
attitude cervical cancer continues to kill Nigerian women yearly. It is
recommended that all women aged 20 – 64 should be screened periodically
for cervical cancer. It is carried out every 3years in women aged 45yrs
and below and every 5years in Women aged > 45years.
6. HIV/AIDS Undoubtedly, HIV/AIDS is
among the top 10 disease killing Nigerian women. Globally, Nigeria ranks
number 3 in terms of individuals infected with HIV. The national
prevalence rate stands at an average of 4.4%. In Nigeria, women are at a
particular risk of being infected with HIV and yearly, thousands of
Nigerian women die from this global scourge. Protection as they say is
the best treatment for HIV/AIDS. Prevention can be ensured by abstinence
from sex and being faithful to one uninfected sexual partner. Condoms
should be consistently and properly used for those who have casual sex.
7. Malnutrition This may sound so untrue
or impossible, but malnutrition and its complications also adds to the
list of diseases killing Nigerian women daily. Malnutrition is defined
as a reduction in intake, poor absorption or utilization of nutrients
(macro and micro) for the optimal functioning of the human body. This
can lead to iron deficiency anemia, heart failure, reduce immunity and
inability to fight invading micro-organisms, loss of tissue and organ
functions. This ultimately leads to death.
8. Diabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus
is caused by the absolute or relative inability of the pancreas to
secrete insulin which enable cells utilize glucose. This creates a state
of hunger in the midst of abundance. The incidence of diabetes has been
on the increase among Nigerian women and it currently ranks amongst the
top 10 disease killing Nigerian women. This can be as a result of
western life style, sedentary life style, change in diet and obesity.
Yearly, thousands of Nigerian women die from this disease which can be
managed with the use of diet modification, drugs and/ or insulin.
9. Hypertension This silent disease
needs no introduction. Hypertension is an increase in the blood pressure
greater than 140/90 mmHg. Untreated hypertension affects vital organs
of the body. It affects the brain leading to stroke, damages the kidneys
by causing kidney failure, it affects the eyes leading to loss of
vision and blindness, and it also affects the heart leading to heart
failure. It has contributed to the death of several women in Nigeria.
10. Pneumonia Pneumonia is a lower
respiratory tract infection of bacterial origin. It causes the lungs to
solidify leading to chest pain, difficulty in breathing and inability of
the lungs to provide oxygen for the tissues and cells of the body.
Pneumonia is a medical condition that can be treated with antibiotics
which are easily available yet many Nigeria women are being killed
yearly by pneumonia.
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