Abstract:
Background: Cesarean section rates have been increasing dramatically during the past three decades and surgical
site infections are becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women undergoing cesarean
deliveries. However there is lack of sound evidence on both the magnitude of the problem and the associated
factors in developing countries including Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess proportion of surgical
site infection and associated factors among women undergoing cesarean delivery in Debretabor General Hospital.
Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted from May to December / 2017. All women
delivered by cesarean section in Debretabor General Hospital during data collection period were our study
population. Data were collected using Pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire/ data extraction tool and post
discharge phone follow up and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression model was used to determine
the association of independent variables with the outcome variable and odds ratios with 95% confidence interval
were used to estimate the strength of the association.
Results: Proportion of surgical site infection among cesarean deliveries was about 8% (95%Cl: 5.4, 11.6). Pregnancy
induced hypertension (AOR = 4.75, 95%CI: 1.62, 13.92), chorioaminitis (AOR = 4.37, 95%CI: 1.53, 12.50), midline skin
incision (AOR = 5.19, 95% CI: 1.87, 14.37 and post-operative hemoglobin less than 11 g/deciliter (AOR = 5.28, 95%CI:
1.97, 14.18) were significantly associated with surgical site infection.
Conclusions: Pregnancy induced hypertension, chorioaminitis, midline skin incision and post-operative hemoglobin
of less than 11 g/deciliter were independent factors associated with surgical site infection. Cesarean deliveries with
concomitant pregnancy induced hypertension, chorioaminitis and post-operative anemia needs special care and
follow up until surgical site infection is ruled out. It is also advisable to reduce generous midline skin incision and
better replaced with pfannensteil incision.
Keywords: Surgical site infection, Cesarean delivery, Debretabor General Hospital
