Publication:

Kaolin consumption and outcome of surgery in women: a comparative study of 263 operations at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital

Background Kaolin consumption is common in our sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of kaolin consumption on the outcome of surgery in women.

Methods It was a cohort study comparing the occurrence of complications during labor among 263 consecutively recruited women who underwent gynecologic or obstetric surgery at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon. Sixty of them (22.8%) declared kaolin consumption before surgery and 203 (77.2%) who denied having consumed kaolin before surgery.

Results Kaolin consumption was found to predispose to postsurgical infections (RR=3.03; IC=1.82-5.05).

Conclusions Kaolin geophagia should be identified before surgery to prevent related postsurgical infections. A systematic ban of kaolin consumption is also recommended.