{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T19:18:35Z","timestamp":1791919115802,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754265600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Mountains of the Moon University RIF"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Puerperal sepsis remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in Uganda.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with puerperal sepsis among postpartum women at Fort portal Regional Referral Hospital located in western Uganda.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A cross-sectional design was employed in the study. We conducted a records review of the patient files of 180 postnatal mothers who were admitted at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital from 20 February, 2024 to 01 April, 2024. A data abstraction checklist was used to collect data from participant files based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA17 for data analysis. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the prevalence of puerperal sepsis and determinants. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for significant factors presented as Adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) at <jats:italic><jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic><\/jats:italic>\u2009\u2264\u20090.05.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The median age of participants was 25.5 years (1QR\u2009=\u200920\u221230) and the majority (77%) had primary education. The prevalence of postnatal sepsis was 24%. Duration of hospital stay [aOR=2.30; 95%CI (1.552\u20133.398); <jats:italic><jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic><\/jats:italic>=&lt;0.001], history of antepartum hemorrhage [aOR=29.09; 95% CI (1.182\u2013716.38); <jats:italic><jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic><\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.039] and Anemia [aOR=0.01; 95% CI (0.001\u20130.218); <jats:italic><jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic><\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.004] were identified as factors associated with puerperal sepsis among postnatal women upon multivariate logistic regression.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Puerperal sepsis was common in our setting. This study found that mode of delivery, duration of hospital stay, anemia, and Antepartum hemorrhage, were the determining factors contributing to puerperal sepsis, infection prevention measures during cesarean sections, and reducing the length of hospital stay would prove to be beneficial in the prevention of sepsis.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0311708","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T17:30:36Z","timestamp":1754328636000},"page":"e0311708","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Prevalence and factors associated with puerperal sepsis among postnatal women at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Western Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Brenda","family":"Nabawanuka","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4689-7178","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Moses","family":"Asiimwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pauline","family":"Irumba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julian","family":"Aryampa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Wasswa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Muhoozi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peterson","family":"Amumpaire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joy","family":"Acen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shamim","family":"Katusabe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joan","family":"Tusabe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joshua","family":"Epuitai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0311708.ref001","volume-title":"The prevention and management of puerperal infections: report of a technical working group, Geneva, 20\u201322 May 1992","author":"WHO","year":"1995"},{"issue":"03","key":"pone.0311708.ref002","first-page":"121","article-title":"Maternal morbidity and mortality associated with puerperal sepsis","volume":"10","author":"C Madhudas","year":"2011","journal-title":"JLUMHS"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref003","first-page":"71","article-title":"Update in obstetric maternal sepsis","author":"N Refai","year":"2019","journal-title":"Obstet Anaesth"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1002\/ijgo.12833","article-title":"Maternal sepsis is an evolving challenge","volume":"146","author":"MJ Turner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Gynaecol Obstet"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-016-0986-9","article-title":"Puerperal sepsis, the leading cause of maternal deaths at a Tertiary University Teaching Hospital in Uganda","volume":"16","author":"J Ngonzi","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Pregnancy Childbirth"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijgo.2013.06.006","article-title":"Causes of puerperal and neonatal sepsis in resource-constrained settings and advocacy for an integrated community-based postnatal approach","volume":"123","author":"AE Miller","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Gynaecol Obstet"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref007","volume-title":"Trends in maternal mortality: 1990-2015: estimates from WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations population division","author":"Organization WH","year":"2015"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0311708.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1097\/QCO.0b013e328339257c","article-title":"Maternal sepsis: epidemiology, etiology and outcome","volume":"23","author":"J van Dillen","year":"2010","journal-title":"Curr Opin Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-018-1891-1","article-title":"Incidence of postpartum infection, outcomes and associated risk factors at Mbarara regional referral hospital in Uganda","volume":"18","author":"J Ngonzi","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Pregnancy Childbirth"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref010","first-page":"1","article-title":"Determinants of puerperal sepsis incidence at Hoima regional referral hospital in Hoima district, western Uganda","volume":"10","author":"IB Alvah","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Med Res"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref011","first-page":"50","volume-title":"Uganda Health Demography Survey","author":"UDHS","year":"2023"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-019-2230-x","article-title":"Determinants of puerperal sepsis among post partum women at public hospitals in west SHOA zone Oromia regional STATE, Ethiopia (institution BASEDCASE control study)","volume":"19","author":"GA Demisse","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Pregnancy Childbirth"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0311708.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.24248\/eahrj.v4i2.639","article-title":"Factors and causes of Puerperal Sepsis in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a descriptive study among postnatal women who attended Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre","volume":"4","author":"DC Kajeguka","year":"2020","journal-title":"East Afr Health Res J"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0311708.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1177\/004947559802800212","article-title":"Puerperal sepsis: a preventable post-partum complication","volume":"28","author":"FO Dare","year":"1998","journal-title":"Trop Doct"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1186\/s13756-019-0676-2","article-title":"Proportion of bacterial isolates, their antimicrobial susceptibility profile and factors associated with puerperal sepsis among post-partum\/aborted women at a referral Hospital in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia","volume":"9","author":"A Admas","year":"2020","journal-title":"Antimicrob Resist Infect Control"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0311708.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"972","DOI":"10.12669\/pjms.294.3389","article-title":"Risk factors and complications of puerperal sepsis at a tertiary healthcare centre","volume":"29","author":"MN Khaskheli","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pak J Med Sci"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-11-565","article-title":"Human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS and other important predictors of maternal mortality in Mulago Hospital Complex Kampala Uganda","volume":"11","author":"JN Wandabwa","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0311708.ref018","first-page":"42","article-title":"Assessments of puerperal sepsis in women at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital Western Campus, Uganda","volume":"8","author":"H Ssenyonga","year":"2023","journal-title":"IDOSR-JBBAF"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1272193","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1272193","article-title":"Prevalence and factors associated with maternal and neonatal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"FB Traor\u00e9","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref020","article-title":"Factors influencing pueperal sepsis among postpartum women at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, in Hoima District Western Uganda","author":"N Andrew","year":"2023","journal-title":"IDOSR-JBBAF"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0311708.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2023.e14809","article-title":"Determinants of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women at public hospitals of Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia: institution-based unmatched case-control study","volume":"9","author":"T Tesfaye","year":"2023","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.11606\/S1518-8787.2017051000389","article-title":"Maternal complications and cesarean section without indication: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"51","author":"KC Mascarello","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rev Saude Publica"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0311708.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2023-083230","article-title":"Determinants of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women: a case-control study in East Shoa Zone public hospitals, Central Ethiopia","volume":"14","author":"BT Oyato","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0311708.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph21030316","article-title":"Prevalence of maternal fever and Associated Factors among postnatal women at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Uganda: a preliminary study","volume":"21","author":"H Ainebyona","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0311708.ref025","unstructured":"Geraldine E. Prevalence and factors associated with puerperal sepsis among women attending the postnatal ward at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. 2023."},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0311708.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.23958\/ijirms\/vol08-i03\/1637","article-title":"A five-year review of feto-maternal outcome of antepartum haemorrhage in a tertiary center","volume":"8","author":"CB Oguejiofor","year":"2023","journal-title":"IJIRMS"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0311708","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T17:30:41Z","timestamp":1754328641000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0311708"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Sheikh Irfan","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0311708","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]]}}}