Prevalence of umbilical hernia in a private school admission-seeking Nigerian children.

BACKGROUND: Despite the claims that umbilical hernia (UH) is common among Nigerian children, the socio-economic class-related prevalence or incidence rate of UH in the Nigerian children is not known. We therefore undertook this study to determine the prevalence of UHs among Nigerian children of high socio-economic class.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This 7- years prospective study assessment of the prevalence of primary umbilical hernias among a private school admission seeking Nigerian children. Clinical evaluations of the umbilicus were conducted on 7,968 Nigerian children, attending interview into Nigerian Airforce Military schools from across the country.

RESULTS: Umbilical hernia was present in 102 (1.3% ) out of 7968 children, giving a prevalence of 12.8 per 1,000. Fifty-three (52.% ) were boys and 49 (48% ) were girls; their ages ranged from 6 to 9 years (mean 6.5 years). Umbilical hernia was 1.4 times as common in the girls as in the boys, with a prevalence of 15.3 per 1,000 and 11.1 per 1,000, respectively. The overall prevalence in this study is comparatively lower than those previously reported.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that there is a low prevalence rate of UH among the children of high socio-economic class in Nigeria.