Unexpectedly low ratio and falling incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy in Enugu, Nigeria, 1978-1981.

The demographic characteristics and subsequent pregnancy rate of women with tubal ectopic pregnancy have been investigated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. The ratio of ectopic pregnancy to total births was 1:287. Ectopic pregnancy accounted for 6.2% of all gynaecological emergencies at the hospital and was the third most common of such emergencies. Nearly 69% of the women with ectopic pregnancy had delivered two or more babies previously, and the post-ectopic pregnancy conception rate was 19.54%. Surprisingly, the rate of ectopic pregnancy fell from 1:190 in 1978 to 1:480 in 1981. Ectopic pregnancy is not obviously influenced by maternal age or parity in Enugu, but is prevalent in women with previous pelvic inflammatory disease.