Abstract:

Background: SSI is one of the leading causes of death and its prevention is a key element of applying the concept of patient safety and quality care. Locally there is paucity of data on knowledge and practices on factors of SSI among post cesarean women. Despite the presence of international guidelines, the prevention of surgical site infections remains a challenge for both patients and hospital. It is important that post cesarean women have sufficient knowledge on surgical site infections and their role in implementing evidence-based prevention strategies. Rising incidence of SSIs among post cesarean women is an increasing concern at BMC

Objective of the study: Determined knowledge and practices on factors for surgical site infections among post caesarean women admitted at Bugando Medical Centre. It was a cross sectional study. Structured questionnaire containing closed ended questions were used.

Methodology: Cross sectional study was conducted at BMC, where samples of 384 post cesarean women admitted at BMC were enrolled in the study. Structured questionnaire containing closed ended questions were used. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.

Conclusion: This study aimed to assessing the awareness of patient risk factors among post cesarean women at BMC. Whereby it was categorized into poor, moderate and high level of awareness. It was observed that more than 50% of the women had at least moderate awareness on the patient risk factors assessed. The assessed awareness was on factors such as shaving of hairs a day prior surgery, vaginosis, staying in labor for more than 12 hours, chorioamnionitis, having skin infections, improper wound dressing and importance of daily wound dressing. Also the relationship was assessed between awareness of these factors and socio-demographic characteristics. Whereby it was observed that, significant statistical relationship existed between the level of awareness and age, level of education, occupation and tribe. With bivariate logistic regression further showed that age, education level and occupation remained statistically significantly with p-value < 0.05. Further studies should be done to assess these factors and also the awareness of these women at Bugando medical centre as well as the nation at large. Also more effort is needed in providing the education to healthcare workers, caretakers and the women undergoing cesarean section.