A Seven- year Review of Uterine Rupture at a Tertiary Health Facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Authors

  • Bassey Goddy Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. Author
  • Isaac Apollos Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. Author

Keywords:

Port Harcourt, maternal outcome, fetal outcome, Ruptured uterus

Abstract

Background: Uterine rupture is a dire obstetric catastrophe commonly encountered in developing countries.

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the fetal and maternal outcomes of ruptured uterus at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a seven-year period and to make recommendations at improving outcome. 

Methods: This was a retrospective hospital-based study in which the case les of patients who had ruptured uterus within the study period were retrieved and relevant information extracted for analysis. Chi square was used to compare discrete variables and p value < 0.05 was regarded as signicant. 

Results: The prevalence of uterine rupture was 1.56%. The mean age and parity were 30.5+ 4.5 years and 3.5+ 2.6 respectively. One hundred and twenty cases (73.8%) were associated with scarred uterus and 50.6% occurred following induction of labour especially by unskilled personnel Anaemia, febrile illness and wound sepsis were the most common post-operative complications and these were significantly associated with unbooked status. The perinatal mortality rate was 839.3/1000 total births and babies of unbooked mothers were about seven times more likely to die than babies of booked mothers (Odds ratio = 6.75) 

Conclusion: Uterine rupture is essentially a disease of the unbooked patient and is associated withscarred uterus and induction of labour. Uterine rupture is linked with high fetal wastage especially among the unbooked patients. Making antenatal care easily accessible to all pregnant women and specialist care during pregnancy and labour especially in high risk patients may improve outcome.

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Published

2025-08-02

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Original Articles

How to Cite

Goddy, B., & Apollos, I. (2025). A Seven- year Review of Uterine Rupture at a Tertiary Health Facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Niger Delta Journal of Medical Sciences (NDJMS), 2(3), 63-70. https://ndjms.ndu.edu.ng/index.php/home/article/view/31

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