The prevalence pattern of external male genital defects among secondary school students in Enugu State of Nigeria

Enugu State typifies a Third World environment where most deliveries occur outside the hospital setting. In such circumstances, hospital-based data about congenital defects are unreliable and call for special methods of approach. To determine the prevalence and pattern of male external genital defects in Igbo male secondary school students in Nigeria. Samples of male students aged 10 years and above seen in randomly selected secondary schools in Enugu State, of South-East Nigeria were guided through a protocol involving, self administered questionnaires, personal interviews and physical examinations for evidence and types of anomalies present in their external genitalia. The participating schools were selected by stratified random sampling; first by local government Areas (LGA) and then by schools. Consents for the study were obtained from Local Government Authorities, Heads of the schools and Parents' Teachers Associations, (PTA) Executives. Altogether, four urban and thirteen rural schools were studied, and a total of 6225 male students participated. Overall, 416 (6.8%) were identified with various types of external genital anomalies, with the prevalence observed being within, the ranges of population prevalence reported in the literature. The commonest types of anomalies encountered were crypto- orchidism with / or without scrotal hypoplasia 268 (4.30%), inguino- scrotal 56 (0.90%), and hydrocoeles 52 (0.83%). As many as 183 (44%) of those with congenital genital defects were not aware that they had them. External male genital defects among Igbos appear to be within the prevalence rate reported in the literature. However the ignorance rate of such defects is high within the Igbo society.