Puerperal sepsis-related knowledge and reported self-care practices among postpartum women in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Knowledge and reported self-care practices of postpartum women are important for early detection, prevention and treatment of puerperal sepsis. Objectives: This study analyzes the knowledge and self-care practices for prevention of puerperal sepsis and their determinants among postpartum women. Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study which included 343 postpartum women was conducted from February to March 2021. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Predictors of knowledge and self-care reported practice were determined using binary logistic regression. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: More than half ( n = 213, 62.1%) of the postpartum women had adequate knowledge on prevention of puerperal sepsis. Only 39 (11.4%) of the women reported adequate self-care practices toward prevention of puerperal sepsis. Secondary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.49, p = 0.001), tertiary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.19–1.38, p = 0.021) and getting information from healthcare providers (adjusted odds ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 0.55–2.06, p = 0.049) were significant determinants of knowledge on prevention of puerperal sepsis. Also, secondary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = 0.04–0.30, p = 0.001), tertiary education (adjusted odds ratio = 0.16, 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.39, p = 0.001), and having more than four antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.49–3.27, p = 0.041) were significant determinants of reported self-care practices for prevention of puerperal sepsis. Conclusion: A significant gap in reported self-care practices to prevent puerperal sepsis was evidence. Secondary and tertiary education were significant predictors for both knowledge and self-care reported practices. Special attention should be given to women with low education level.

Incidence and predictors of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women at Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, northwest Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study

“…Given that a low educational level was associated with inadequate knowledge and self-care practices regarding puerperal sepsis, this finding suggested that postnatal mothers who did not attend formal education should receive special attention. This is because good knowledge and self-care practices strongly recommend for preventing puerperal sepsis ( 24 ). From a policy perspective, ensuring obstetric caregivers have the knowledge and skills to provide intensive training regarding puerperal sepsis, especially to postnatal women with a low level of education.…”

Reported Self-Care Practice towards Prevention of Puerperal Sepsis and Associated Factors among Postnatal Mothers In Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia, 2022

“…The nding is higher than the study done in northwestern Ethiopia (40.8%) (10), in Tanzania (11.4%) (11), in Nepal (8.34%) (19), and in Minia University, Egypt (25.3%) (20), had good practice towards prevention of puerperal sepsis.…”

“…Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire developed from the different literature (10,11). The questionnaire was used to assess reported self-care practice and associated factors among postnatal mothers.…”

“…Studies have reported that risk factors contributing to puerperal sepsis include having cesarean section delivery, prolonged labor, early rupture of membrane for more than 24h, repeated vaginal examination more than ve times during labor, retained products of conception, and maternal anemia due to a lack of awareness, ignorance, customs, and social behaviors, postpartum mothers are susceptible to many types of infections (6, 7) (8). Postnatal mothers with a primary level of education, rural residence, low ANC follow-up, age, and low monthly income were among the factors linked to inadequate practice in preventing puerperal sepsis (9)(10)(11).…”

Maternal mortality: a 6-year experience of the triumph achieved and the hardships faced in a tertiary care centre of Chhattisgarh

“…Sepsis is also one of the direct obstetric causes of death as seen in studies by Suresh et al 3,14 This may be because of increased prevalence of anemia, multiple referrals leading to repeated examinations increasing chances of sepsis and last but not the least injudicious use of higher antibiotics even though not required. [15][16][17] As a result of this, over the recent years resistance to antibiotics have been observed. Also, critical patients requiring prolonged ventilatory support acquire ventilator acquired pneumonia resulting in sepsis and death.…”