Puerperal Morbidity Following Caesarean Section in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

A prospective descriptive study was undertaken to determine the incidence and causes of puerperal morbidity after caesarean section in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from 1st to 30th June 2010. There were a total of 906 deliveries during the study period, of which 299 had caesarean section giving a caesarean section rate of 33%. Primary caesarean section was 57.7%. The incidence of puerperal morbidity after caesarean section was 45.6%. Painful incisional site (21%), puerperal febrile morbidity (16%), depression (12.0%) severe anaemia (12%) Urinary tract infection (6.2%) and wound infections (5.8%) were the leading causes of puerperal morbidities. Other morbidities included hypertensive disorders (4.2%), malaria (3.2%) mastitis (2.5%), postpartum haemorrhage (2.1%), and endometritis (1.2%). Conculsion: There was considerable maternal morbidity after caesarean section at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. There is a need for improvements in post operative care to reduce puerperal morbidity following caesarean section; adequate post operative pain management would reduce morbidity to a greater extent.