Abstract

The main objective of the study was to identify factors influencing puerperal sepsis among
post-partum women at Hoima regional referral hospital, in Hoima district, Western Uganda.
The specific objectives were; To determine the prevalence of puerperal sepsis at Hoima
regional referral hospital, to assess the social demographic factors affecting puerperal sepsis
at Hoima regional referral hospital, to determine Patients factors affecting puerperal sepsis
at Hoima regional referral hospital and to determine the healthcare factors affecting the
prevalence of puerperal sepsis at Hoima regional referral hospital. The study adopted the
descriptive cross-sectional method. The study population was all mothers in the maternity
ward of Hoima regional referral hospital who developed puerperal sepsis and consented to
the study. The two sets of data; qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed separately
using Microsoft Excel manually and interpreted into averages and percentages and presented
on tables, graphs, and pie charts. It was found that the prevalence of puerperal sepsis was
37.5%, with most participants (51.7%) delivered by cesarean section, and 35.5% by
spontaneous vaginal delivery. The study concluded that the majority of puerperal sepsis
occurs due to poverty, low income, and low maternal age and that the caesarian section is a
very high-risk factor. The study further recommended that the government through the
Ministry of Health should partner with hospitals creating affordable costs for mothers
whenever serious conditions arise. Also, the promotion of education of girl children to higher
levels would reduce low maternal age and also directly reduce puerperal sepsis. Furthermore,
healthcare workers should work in a skilled way to prevent sepsis in postpartum mothers.