Prevalence of post- Caesarean Section Wound Infection at Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil City

Abstract

Background: The city of Erbil, being part of a developing country, is a society where an enormous number of deliveries take place. It is therefore typical for many patients to undergo Caesarean section during their lifetime. However, due to this delicate and vulnerable procedure, post-operative patients are promptly distressed and afflicted with wound infection. Wound infection leads to disturbing consequences such as mortality, morbidity, and readmission into the hospital. Despite such a prevalent phenomenon in Erbil, there are quite very few studies conducted on this matter. Method: A prospective cross-sectional designed study was applied on 1000 patients after lower segment Caesarean section was implemented by April 2015 to April 2016. Data collection was carried out exclusively by one doctor filling a questionnaire report. Patients were diagnosed with post-Cesarean section wound infection within 20 days following the Caesarean section without clinical interventions (without dressing). Results: The rate of post-Caesarean section wound infection was determined to be 18.9% with the patients aged from 15-45 years. All the patient- related risk factors were significant (most with a p-value of 0.001), while some of the surgeon-associated risk factors were insignificant or inconclusive. Conclusion: Due to the relatively high incidence rate of surgical site infection in Erbil city at the Maternity Teaching Hospital, systematic and expedient measures to control and impede further rising of post-Caesarean infection in the future must be enforced using a well-regulated surveillance system. Such conduction is important due to the increasing influx of patients into this public hospital prompted by multiple parities, migration into Kurdistan from other war-disturbed cities (Mosul, Fallujah, Anbar, and regions near Syria) and the current financial crisis.