Abstract

This study aimed at establishing the risk factors of surgical site infections among post-operative patients at Fort
Portal Regional Referral Hospital. This was a cross-sectional and analytical study of 129 people operated on during
the period of April – June 2022. Logistic regression was used to study the factors associated with surgical site
infections. The associations between the dependent variable and the other variables were assessed by the odds ratio
(OR) followed by their 95% confidence interval. The prevalence of surgical site infections was 7.81% CI 95% = (5.12–
10.51). The factors linked to the surgical site infections in the studied population were the patient and post admission
method [OR = 2.74; 95% CI = (1.08–6.95)] and the length of the postoperative stay [OR = 8.75; 95% CI = (2.83–
26.98)]. The PI and direct observation identified health care system dysfunctions, medical errors, patient monitoring
and financial unavailability as factors that could favor the onset of surgical site infections. Interventions should be
focused on the factors identified for the effective management of operated patients.