Prevalence and Factors Associated With Histological Chorioamnionitis among Term Women Delivering From Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital

Background: Chorioamninitis (CAM), is an acute inflammation of the membrane and chorion of the placenta which can either be clinical or histological. At Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital the prevalence and factors associated with histological chorioamnionitis are widely unknown. Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with histological chorioamnionitis in term pregnancy among mothers delivering from Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.   Methods: At inclusion in a cross-section, from December 2015 to February 2016, 136 women at term were interviewed. The placentas were evaluated, and diagnosis was based on histologic examination of the placenta. Placentas with microscopic evidence of inflammation of the membranes (infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and other immunocytes, such as macrophages and T cells) were considered positive for histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Placental positive for HCA were scored and categorized as: Grade 1 (mild to moderate chorioamninitis) or Grade 2 (severe chorioamnionitis- three or more chorionic microabscesses). Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with chorioamnionitis. The significant level of 5% was used. Odds ratios and their corresponding 95% CI were provided at both bivariate and multivariate analysis.   Results: Among the 129 placentas of mothers at term that were examined, histologogical chorioamnionitis was diagnosed (HCA-positive) in 34.1% of women. Duration of labor more than 18 hours was found to be associated with HCA (aOR=4.0, 95%CI:1.30-12.39, p=0.0267). There were 34 cases of HCA grade 1 among cases positive for HCA (81.8%).   Conclusions: In our study, the prevalence of HCA was found to be high and duration of labor more than 18 hours was found to be significantly associated with HCA. The proportion of grade 1 HCA among term women with HCA at MRRH is 81.8%

Incidence and Factors Associated with Postpartum Anemia at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital

Background: The World Health organization defines postpartum anemia as hemoglobin <11g/dl at 1 week postpartum and <12g/dl at 8 weeks postpartum. Postpartum anemia can also be defined as less than 11.8 g/dl for women aged 12–15 years and less than 12g/dl for women at least age 15 years. In Uganda, 23% of women age 15-49 are anemic, with 18 percent having mild anemia, 5 percent having moderate anemia, and less than 1 percent having severe anemia. Objective: To determine the incidence and factors associated with the new cases of post natal anemia in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Methods:  A prospective cohort study of 271 postpartum mothers without anemia enrolled on discharge after delivery. Participants were followed up to determine development of anemia at 10 weeks postpartum and associated factors on the subsequent postnatal visits. Incidence of postpartum anemia in MRRH was 29.9%, 95% CI (24 - 35). Helminthes infestations AOR95%CI; 12.88(5.25- 31.64, P<0.000), malaria infections AOR95%CI 4.74(1.50-14.94, P=0.008), poor hematinic adherence AOR95%CI, 6.81(3.17-14.62, P<0.000), high parity AOR95%CI, 2.48(1.11- 5.54, P=0.026), and husband unemployment AOR 3.92(1.14 – 13.39, P=0.030) were found to be statistically associated with post-partum anemia. Conclusion: The incidence of postpartum anemia in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is very high. Hematinics non adherence, husband unemployment, increased parity; malaria infection and helminthes infestation were found to be associated with post-partum anemia at MRRH