Publications

Puerperal sepsis encompasses infections after birth usually in the first 42 days following thepostpartum period and is the major cause of maternal morbidity and rendered the majorcause of death worldwide. Globally, puerperal sepsis is estimated to account for 15% of the500,000 maternal deaths annually. It is the third most common cause of maternal deathsworldwide. The purpose of the study was to assess the Knowledge and Practices of healthworkers on the prevention of puerperal sepsis among mothers at Fort Portal Regional ReferralHospital, Fort Portal City. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study design that usedquantitative methods. A consecutive sampling method was used to select respondents. Thesample size was 96 but 81 respondents were interviewed using self-administeredquestionnaires, where data was coded, entered using SPPS 20.1 and presented in tables,graphs and pie charts. The results showed that health workers had inadequate knowledge ofpuerperal sepsis where 30(45.5%) correctly described puerperal sepsis. 31(38.3%) and29(35.8%) reported repeated vaginal exams and caesarean section as risk factors forpuerperal sepsis, respectively. Practices of health workers to prevent puerperal sepsis arehand washing 45(55.5%), wearing gloves 81(100%), screening for risk factors 76(93.6%) anduse of prophylactic antibiotics. In conclusion, health workers have inadequate knowledge ofpuerperal sepsis prevention and good practices on puerperal sepsis prevention. And theresearcher recommends that all health workers in the maternity ward should undergo specialtraining on puerperal sepsis prevention methods and more research to evaluate the techniques of the practices applied and their association with the prevention of puerperal sepsis be conducted