Knowledge and Practices of Health Workers on Prevention of Puerperal Sepsis among Mothers at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

Puerperal sepsis encompasses infections after birth usually in the first 42 days following the postpartum period and is the major cause of maternal morbidity and rendered the major cause of death worldwide. Globally, puerperal sepsis is estimated to account for 15% of the 500,000 maternal deaths annually. It is the third most common cause of maternal deaths worldwide. The purpose of the study was to assess the Knowledge and Practices of health workers on the prevention of puerperal sepsis among mothers at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Fort Portal City. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study design that used quantitative methods. A consecutive sampling method was used to select respondents. The sample size was 96 but 81 respondents were interviewed using self-administered questionnaires, where data was coded, entered using SPPS 20.1 and presented in tables, graphs and pie charts. The results showed that health workers had inadequate knowledge of puerperal sepsis where 30(45.5%) correctly described puerperal sepsis. 31(38.3%) and 29(35.8%) reported repeated vaginal exams and caesarean section as risk factors for puerperal sepsis, respectively. Practices of health workers to prevent puerperal sepsis are hand washing 45(55.5%), wearing gloves 81(100%), screening for risk factors 76(93.6%) and use of prophylactic antibiotics. In conclusion, health workers have inadequate knowledge of puerperal sepsis prevention and good practices on puerperal sepsis prevention. And the researcher recommends that all health workers in the maternity ward should undergo special training on puerperal sepsis prevention methods and more research to evaluate the techniques of the practices applied and their association with the prevention of puerperal sepsis be conducted. Keywords: Puerperal sepsis, Infections after birth, Postpartum period, health workers, Caesarean section.