Abstract:
Introduction: Puerperal sepsis is any bacterial infection of the genital tract, which occurs as a
complication of delivery or childbirth. It is among the leading causes of preventable maternal
morbidity and mortality not only in developing countries but also in developed countries which
accounts 10.7% and 4.7% of maternal death respectively. puerperal sepsis was among common
cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and also an increment of puerperal sepsis in SubSaharan Africa; the separate study on prevalence as well as factors associated with puerperal
sepsis was limit. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and
factors associated with puerperal sepsis among postpartum women.
Objectives: To assess the magnitude of puerperal sepsis and associated factors among
postpartum women admitted to public hospital of Jimma zone, Oromia, southwest, Ethiopia,
2019.
Method and material: A cross-sectional study was carried out in public hospitals from April -
May 15, 2019 in Jimma Zone, Oromia region, southwest Ethiopia. Study samples were selected
by systematic sampling procedure that full fills the inclusion criteria to be selected during the
study period. EPI data version 3.1 was used to enter the data. SPSS version 23 was used for
analysis of the data and the result was presented in table and chart. Bi-variate and multivariable
logistic regressions were carried out to determine the association between the outcome variable
and independent variables.
Result: A total of 406 postpartum women were interviewed out of 422. The mean age of
respondents was 26.2 (+5.2) years. Majority of the respondents 388 (95.6%) were married and
239 (58.9%) were rural resident. Totally 48 (11.8%) women developed puerperal sepsis. Grand
multi-para (AOR=3.79, 95% CI, 1.3-10.7), home delivery (AOR = 5.721, 95% CI: 1.835-
17.837), premature rupture of membranes (AOR= 4.842, 95% CI, 2.004-11.697), prolonged
labour (AOR= 2.662, 95% CI, 1.195-5.929) and episiotomy or genital tear (AOR= 4.066, 95%
CI: 1.535-10.77) were significantly associated with puerperal sepsis.
Conclusion and recommendation: Magnitude of puerperal sepsis was high compared to others
studies so, policy maker and professionals should work to decreases prevalence of puerperal
sepsis and tackle factors associated with the development of sepsis.
