Magnitude and trends in cervical cancer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda: Retrospective analysis of data from 2017-2022.

High-income countries have documented a significant decline in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer over the past decade but such data from low and middle-income countries such as Uganda is limited to ascertain trends. There is also paucity of data on the burden of cervical cancer in comparison to other gynaecologic malignancies and there is a likelihood that the incidence might be on the rise. To describe the current trends and magnitude of cervical cancer in comparison to other gynaecological malignancies histological types, we conducted a retrospective records review of charts of patients admitted with gynaecological malignancies on the gynaecological ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) between January 2017 and December 2022. Of 875 patients with gynaecological malignancies admitted to the MRRH in the 6-year review period, 721 (82.4%) had cervical cancer. Patients with cervical cancer were significantly older than those with other gynaecological malignancies: (50.2±11.5 versus 43.8± 15.0 respectively, p<0.001). Between 2017 and 2022, cervical cancer rates increased by 17% annually compared to other gynaecological cancers (OR:1.17; 95% CI 1.06-1.28, p = 0.0046), with the majority of patients of cervical cancer patients (92.7%, n = 668) having squamous cell carcinoma. Most patients (87.9%, n = 634) had late-stage disease (stage 2 and above) and were referred to the Uganda Cancer Institute for chemoradiation. These results imply that there is a need to scale up screening services and other preventive measures such as vaccination against human papilloma virus.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Syphilis among Mothers with Missed Opportunities for Antenatal Syphilis Testing in Rural Western Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Early prenatal syphilis testing and treatment are essential preventative measures for maternal syphilis and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes of pregnancy; however, data shows that two-thirds of all cases are missed among women who visit prenatal care center at least once but are not tested for syphilis. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing in rural western Uganda delivered at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done during the period from April 2022 to June 2022. A total of 124 participants had been recruited consecutively from postnatal ward of FRRH. Pretested questionnaires were used to obtain information on data required for analysis. Venous blood sampling (2 ml taken from the forearm using anticoagulant free vacutainer) was done for all mothers who missed opportunity for prenatal syphilis testing using both RPR and TPHA. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The prevalence of syphilis infection was 27 (21.8%). After adjusted analysis, having more than one sexual partners in the past one year was associated with higher odds of syphilis infection (aOR = 24.922, 95% CI: 4.462-139.201, p < 0.001), and staying with the partner was found to be associated with lower odds of syphilis infection (aOR = 0.213, 95% CI: 0.040-1.142, p = 0.050). Conclusions: The study identified high prevalence of syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing, and this was positively associated with having more than one sexual partners in the past one year and negatively associated with not staying with partner.

Incidence and Factors Associated with Postspinal Headache in Obstetric Mothers Who Underwent Spinal Anesthesia from a Tertiary Hospital in Western Uganda: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The proportion of obstetric mothers reporting postspinal headache (PSH) in Uganda is high. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and factors associated with postspinal headache among obstetric patients who underwent spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at a tertiary hospital in Western Uganda. Methods: A prospective cohort study was done on 274 consecutively enrolled obstetric patients at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH) from August to November 2022. Pretested questionnaires were used to obtain the data needed for analysis. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel version 16, coded, and transported into SPSS version 22 for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the incidence of postspinal headache. Binary logistic regression was computed to obtain factors associated with postspinal headache. Results: The overall incidence of postspinal headache was 38.3% (95% CI: 32.5-44.4). Factors with higher odds of developing postspinal headache included using cutting needle (aOR 3.206, 95% CI: 1.408-7.299, p=0.006), having a previous history of chronic headache (aOR 3.326, 95% CI: 1.409-7.85, p=0.006), having lost >1500 mls of blood intraoperatively (aOR 6.618, 95% CI: 1.582-27.687, p=0.010), initiation of ambulation >24 h after spinal anesthesia (aOR 2.346, 95% CI: 1.079-5.102, p=0.032), allowing 2-3 drops of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to fall (aOR 3.278, 95% CI: 1.263-8.510, p=0.015), undergoing 2 puncture attempts (aOR 7.765, 95% CI: 3.48-17.326, p ≤ 0.001), 3 puncture attempts (aOR 27.61, 95% CI: 7.671-99.377, p ≤ 0.001) and >3 puncture attempts (aOR 20.17, 95% CI: 1.614-155.635, p=0.004), those prescribed weak opioids (aOR 20.745, 95% CI: 2.964-145.212, p=0.002), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with nonopioids (aOR 6.104, 95% CI: 1.257-29.651, p=0.025), and NSAID with weak opioids (aOR 5.149, 95% CI: 1.047-25.326, p=0.044). Women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m2 (aOR 0.471, 95% CI: 0.224-0.989, p=0.047) and a level of puncture entry at L3-4 (aOR 0.381, 95% CI: 0.167-0.868, p=0.022) had lower odds of developing PSH. Conclusions: The incidence of postspinal headache is still high as compared to the global range. This was significantly associated with needle design, amount of cerebro-spinal fluid lost, number of puncture attempts, body mass index, previous diagnosis with chronic headache, amount of intraoperative blood loss, time at start of ambulation, level of puncture entry, and class of analgesic prescribed. We recommend the use of a smaller gauge needle, preventing CSF loss, deliberate attempts to ensure successful puncture with fewer attempts, puncture attempts at L3-4, reducing intraoperative blood loss, earlier ambulation, and prescribing adequate analgesia to reduce the incidence of postspinal headache.

Effectiveness of preoperative bath using chloroxylenol antiseptic soap on the incidence of post emergency cesarean section surgical site infection at Mbarara Regional Referral hospital, Uganda: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) constitute 15%-45% of hospital acquired infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Cesarean section (CS) increases the risk of developing sepsis by 5-20 times and is highest when the operation is emergency. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure the effect of chloroxylenol in reducing the incidence of post cesarean SSIs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). Methods: a randomized controlled trial was conducted at MRRH maternity ward and mothers were randomized into either control or intervention arms. The intervention was a complete body bath with chloroxylenol antiseptic soap before the operation, while the control arm participants received a standard ward pre-operative preparation procedures. All participants were followed up for 30 days and assessed using an SSI screening tool. Results: ninety-six women were randomized, and 48 were assigned to each arm. The overall incidence of SSI was 30.21%. The incidence of SSI was significantly lower in the intervention compared to the control arm (6.25% in the intervention arm versus 54.17% in the control arm) (p-value <0.001). Chloroxylenol bath was protective of SSI with a 90% risk reduction for SSI (95% confidence interval of 67%-97%). Conclusion: a preoperative bath with chloroxylenol for pregnant mothers is associated with a significantly lower risk of post cesarean section surgical site infections. Health facilities with a high burden of post SSI should consider adding this simple and effective intervention to the existing infection prevention measures. Clinical Trials.gov registration (NCT03544710).

Short interbirth interval and associated factors among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries at a tertiary hospital, Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Women with previous cesarean deliveries, have a heightened risk of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes, associated with short interbirth intervals. We determined the prevalence of short interbirth interval, and associated factors, among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries who delivered at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on the postnatal ward of MRRH from November 2020 to February 2021. We enrolled women who had antecedent cesarean deliveries through consecutive sampling. We obtained participants' socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. We defined short interbirth interval as an interval between two successive births of < 33 months. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with short interbirth intervals. RESULTS: Of 440 participants enrolled, most had used postpartum family planning (PPFP) prior to the current pregnancy (67.5%), and most of the pregnancies (57.2%) were planned. The mean age of the participants was 27.6 ± 5.0 years. Of the 440 women, 147 had a short interbirth interval, for a prevalence of 33% (95%CI: 29-38%). In multivariable analysis, non-use of PPFP (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.24; 95%CI: 1.57-3.20, P < 0.001), delivery of a still birth at an antecedent delivery (aPR = 3.95; 95%CI: 1.43-10.9, P = 0.008), unplanned pregnancy (aPR = 3.59; 95%CI: 2.35-5.49, P < 0.001), and young maternal age (aPR = 0.25 for < 20 years vs 20-34 years; 95%CI: 0.10-0.64, P = 0.004), were the factors significantly associated with short interbirth interval. CONCLUSION: One out of every three womenwith antecedent caesarean delivery had a short interbirth interval. Short interbirth intervals were more common among women with history of still births, those who did not use postpartum family planning methods, and those whose pregnancies were unplanned, compared to their counterparts. Young mothers (< 20 years) were less likely to have short interbirth intervals compared to those who were 20 years or older. Efforts should be made to strengthen and scale up child-spacing programs targeting women with previous cesarean deliveries, given the high frequency of short interbirth intervals in this study population.

Risk factors for postpartum intrauterine device expulsion among women delivering at a tertiary Hospital in Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUD) use refers to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion after delivery but within 48 h of birth. In Uganda, the general use of modern methods of contraception is low with < 1% of the women adopting the IUD as a method of contraception. An important limiting factor to increased uptake of immediate postpartum IUD insertion may be its expulsion rates which vary widely. There is minimal documentation PPIUD expulsion rates and factors associated with PPIUD expulsion during puerperium in Uganda. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the proportion of TCu380A (copper) intrauterine devices expelled by 6 weeks postpartum, and identify risk factors for expulsion among women delivering at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study from September 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 at MRRH. We administered a structured questionnaire to all participants, to capture data on their baseline demographic, clinical and obstetric characteristics. We followed up women who accepted the PPIUD insertions at 6 weeks post insertion for any IUD expulsion. We fit multivariable log binomial regression models to identify risk factors for IUD expulsion. RESULTS: We enrolled 167 women who had PPIUDs inserted. Of the144 women who returned at 6 weeks for follow up, 13 (9%; 95%CI:4.9-15%) of them had the IUDs expelled. In the multivariable model, the significant risk factors for PPIUD expulsion were: IUD insertion more than 10 min post-delivery (aRR 8.1, 95%CI 1.26-51.98, p = 0.027) and bloody lochia flow of ≥15 days (aRR 8.5, 95%CI 1.47-48.47, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The cumulative expulsion rate of postpartum IUDs among women delivering at MRRH was low and comparable to expulsion rates in interval insertions. Longer duration from delivery to IUD insertions and longer duration of bloody lochia flow were key risk factors for postpartum IUD expulsion. More emphasis should be put on prenatal counseling for postpartum family planning to allow for postplacental IUD insertions, which are associated with lower expulsion rates.

Risk Factors for Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries among Women Delivering at a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) arise from perineal trauma during vaginal delivery and are associated with poor maternal health outcomes. Most OASIS occur in unattended deliveries in resource-limited settings. However, even in facilities where deliveries are attended by skilled personnel, a number of women still get OASIS. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injuries among women delivering at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). METHODS: We conducted an unmatched hospital-based case control study, with the ratio of cases to controls of 1 : 2 (80 cases and 160 controls). We defined a case as a mother who got a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear after vaginal delivery while the controls recruited were the next two mothers who delivered vaginally without a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear. A questionnaire and participants' medical records review were used to obtain sociodemographic and clinical data. We estimated the incidence of OASIS and performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression to identify the associated risk factors. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence for OASIS during the study period was 6.6%. The risk factors for OASIS were 2nd stage of labour ≥1 hour (aOR 6.07, 95%CI 1.86-19.82, p=0.003), having episiotomy performed during labour (aOR 2.57, 95%CI 1.07-6.17, p=0.035), perineum support during delivery (aOR 0.03, 95%CI 0.01-0.12, p < 0.001), and monthly income of >50,000 shillings (aOR 0.09, 95%CI 0.03-0.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions and Recommendations. The risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injury were prolonged second stage of labour and performing episiotomies during deliveries while higher monthly income and perineum support during delivery were protective. We recommend routine support to the perineum during delivery. Care should be taken in mothers with episiotomies, as they can extend and cause OASIS.