Abstract

This study assessed the determinants and prevalence of post-cesarean sepsis in post-operative
women in Kapchorwa District Hospital between the periods of 1st June to 31st October 2022. A
descriptive cross-sectional study was done among post-operative women at Kapchorwa District
Hospital involving 215 mothers who consented to participate in the study. Structured
questionnaires were used to collect data according to the study objectives. The study showed
that only 41(19%) had developed sepsis and that being between 29 to 38 years of age was a
significant factor in having sepsis, with an odds ratio of 0.35(0.92-12.20) and P- value of 0.001.
The study showed among mothers who had post-cesarean sepsis majority of 22(53.7%) were
peasant farmers and for those who didn’t get sepsis majority of 77(44.3%) were peasant farmers
as well. Furthermore, of those who had had sepsis, the majority 31(75.0%) were those of primary
level of education, the study also showed that parity of the mothers did not influence the
occurrence of sepsis, at an odd ratio of 2.42(1.47-8.50) and p-value of 0.875, The study also
showed that lack of adequate post-natal care was a significant factor in leading to the
occurrence of sepsis, with an odds ratio of 4.60(1.51-17.25) and p-value of 0.001, in which the
majority 26(62.5%) of the those who got sepsis said they had not been given any health
education with, those 26(62.5%) who developed sepsis saying the cost of care was high, those
who did not get sepsis 113(64.7%) also could not afford the high cost of health care. The
prevalence of post-cesarean sepsis according to the study above is still high among postcesarean
mothers admitted at Kapchorwa District Hospital. Mothers between the ages of 29 to
38 years remain the most common age group with post-cesarean sepsis according to the study
above, mothers who had a primary school level of education had the highest cases of postcesarean
sepsis according to the study above, the researcher also found that there was no
relationship between parity and occupation, and occurrence post cesarean sepsis among
mothers from the study above. From the study above lack of adequate post-natal care was
significantly associated with post-cesarean sepsis among mothers, also found that lack of health
education was significantly associated with the occurrence of post-cesarean sepsis among
mothers, the study also found that failure of mothers to receive prescribed drugs after the
cesarean section had a significant association with the occurrence of post-cesarean sepsis, high
cost of health care also remains a significant cause of post-cesarean sepsis according to the
study above.