Abstract

Puerperal sepsis is a global problem. It causes maternal morbidity in every hospital in the world. Some people acquire
the sepsis after they have been admitted to the hospital maternity ward. Usually about 4-6 percent of patients who
come into the hospital and maternity ward acquire some kind of clinical infection. The study aimed to determine the
factors contributing to puerperal sepsis in postnatal mothers in maternity ward at Fort Portal Regional Referral
Hospital. A cross sectional study was conducted whereby questionnaires were availed to mothers in maternity ward
to fill. All mothers who delivered from Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital and develop puerperal sepsis were
included in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using Microsoft excel manually and interpreted into average
and percentages and presented on tables, graphs and pie charts. The study found out that the prevalence of puerperal
sepsis at fort portal regional referral hospital is 22.4% and most respondents were multiparous (80.6%0, 49.4%
delivered from the hospital, 41.7% from home while 8,8% delivered from the traditional birth attendant. 64.7% had
spontaneous vaginal delivery, while 35.3% had caesarean section, and 58.8% were assisted by doctors while 41.2%
were assisted by midwives/nurses, 57.6% took the normal period of labor and 42.4% had prolonged labor and 12.9%
experienced antepartum hemorrhage. The prevalence of puerperal sepsis was found to be 22.4% and it as associated
to factors such as parity, mode of delivery, place of delivery, duration of labor and other medical conditions like
diabetes, hypertension and HIV infection. Government through the Ministry of Health should partner with hospitals
creating affordable costs to mothers whenever serious conditions a rise. Aseptic technique should be practiced when
assisting mothers during delivery.
Keywords: Puerperal sepsis, Clinical infection, Patients, Postnatal mothers, Caesarean section, Vaginal delivery.