Abstract

Background: puerperal sepsis is infection of the genital tract occurring at any time after 24 hour of delivery up to the 42nd day postpartum. Globally 6 million had developed puerperal sepsis and around 77,000 mothers died of it. It is one of the fifth common cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Howe ever there were limited evidences on factors affecting the occurrence of puerperal sepsis in Ethiopia generally and in the study area particularly.

Objective: To assess prevalence of puerperal sepsis and associated factors among mothers who utilize postnatal care at University of Gondar referral hospital, North West Ethiopia, 2017.

Method: an institutional based quantitative cross sectional study was conducted among postnatal women from 1stseptember – 30thDecember, 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 219 women who utilize postnatal care service in Gondar University Hospital from 1stseptember – 30thDecember, 2017. Data were entered into EPI info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with occurrence of puerperal sepsis. Odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance.

Result: the occurrence of puerperal sepsis in the study area was found to be 17.2 %,( 95%CI 12.0-22.5). Having cesarean section delivery (AOR=.38 95%CI (.18-.81), being primiparous and multiparas (AOR= 3.92(1.10-13.92) were factors found to be associated with puerperal sepsis

Conclusion: the prevalence of puerperal sepsis in the postnatal clinic of university of Gondar was found to be high. PROM, Mode of delivery, parity and mode of placental removal were factors found to be associated with puerperal sepsis.

Keywords

puerperal sepsis, postnatal, primiparous, maternal death