AUTHOR=Bishaw Keralem Anteneh , Sharew Yewbmirt , Beka Endihnew , Aynalem Bewket Yeserah , Zeleke Liknaw Bewket , Desta Melaku , Kassie Bekalu , Amha Haile , Eshete Tewodros , Tamir Workineh , Bantigen Kerebih , Mulugeta Henok , Ferede Addisu Andualem , Bitewa Yibelu Bazezew 

TITLE=Incidence and predictors of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women at Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, northwest Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Global Women's Health

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/global-womens-health/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.966942

DOI=10.3389/fgwh.2023.966942

ISSN=2673-5059

ABSTRACT=Background: Puerperal sepsis is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the majority the maternal mortality occurs. Women with postpartum infections are prone to long-term disabilities, such as chronic pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, and secondary infertility. Besides this, less attention has been devoted to puerperal sepsis. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the incidence of puerperal sepsis and its predictors among postpartum women at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 330 postpartum women from September 2020 to 2021. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire with a data extraction checklist was used to collect the data. Data were entered into Epi data 4.2 and analyzed using STATA 14.0. The incidence rate of puerperal sepsis was calculated, and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival probability of developing puerperal sepsis. The cox-proportional hazards regression model was fitted to identify predictors of puerperal sepsis.
Results:  A total of 330 postpartum women were followed for a total of 1685.3 person-week observations. The incidence rate of puerperal sepsis was 14.24 per 1000 person-weeks. However, the overall incidence of puerperal sepsis was 7.27%. Not attending formal education (AHR: 3.55, 95% CI: (1.09 - 11.58), a cesarean delivery (AHR: 4.50; 95% CI: (1.79-11.30), premature rupture of the membranes (AHR: 3.25; 95% CI: (1.08 - 9.79), complicated pregnancy (AHR: 4.80; 95% CI: (1.85 - 12.43), being referred (AHR: 2.90; 95% CI: (1.10-7.65), and not having birth preparedness and complication readiness plan (AHR: 2.95; 95% CI: (1.08-10.50) were statistically significant predictors of puerperal sepsis.
Conclusion: The incidence of puerperal sepsis was high. Educational level, mode of delivery, premature rupture of membranes, complicated pregnancy, referral status, and absence of birth preparedness and complication readiness plan were predictors of puerperal sepsis.