Post-Caesarean section complications at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka

Abstract

This study is aimed at identifying the post-caesarean section complications and risk factors in the University Teaching Hospital. The post-caesarean section complications were determined after closely following up 300 patients who had undergone caesarean delivery from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2005. The period of observation was from the first day of the operation up to six weeks.The findings were that 114 out of 300 (38%) developed complications among which pyrexia was the commonest (29.6%), followed by wound infection (2.3%). A significant association was found between the number of vaginal examinations and pyrexia (p <0. 001). Those who had less than four vaginal examinations were less likely to develop pyrexia (OR: 0.64, 95% CI 0.45, 0.91) than those who had more than four. Patients who were of primary or no education were more likely to have pyrexia (OR: 1.40, 95% CI [1.05,1.87]).The length of labour prior to the caesarean section was significantly associated with the development of pyrexia (p<0.005). Patients who spent less than 12 hours in labour were less likely to develop. Interestingly enough having ruptured membranes for more than 6 hours before the section did not have any particular impact of the occurrence of pyrexia and this finding is at variance with most of the literature.