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Abstract Background Hemolysis Elevated Liver Enzymes Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome, a complication of preeclampsia/eclampsia, is associated with severe maternal morbidity and mortality. In resource-limited settings, such as Uganda, gaps in routine laboratory assessments may lead to underdetection of HELLP syndrome. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with HELLP syndrome among pregnant women with preeclampsia/eclampsia at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), southwestern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the high-risk ward of the MRRH from December 2022 to June 2023. Pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia or eclampsia were enrolled consecutively. Participants’ sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The diagnosis of complete HELLP syndrome was made based on the Tennessee classification: aspartate aminotransferase enzyme ≥ 70 IU/L, platelet counts

Abstract Background Prehypertension during pregnancy is currently not considered as a high-risk pregnancy state in existing guidelines despite recent research correlating it with higher rates of morbidity and mortality in both the mother and the fetus. Studies on prehypertension have not been conducted in Africa despite high rates of poor neonatal outcomes. Aims The study aimed to determine the association between late pregnancy prehypertension and adverse outcomes in newborns of women with late pregnancy prehypertension at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Methods and materials Between September 2022 and January 2023, a hospital-based prospective cohort study including 300 pregnant women was conducted. Participants were divided according to third-trimester blood pressure, as determined by the JNC-8 criteria. Following hospital admission for labor and delivery, 150 normotensive women and 150 prehypertensive women were identified and followed until delivery, and their neonates were followed until death or hospital discharge. A p value of ≤ 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance when comparing the groups using the relative risk, X2, and Mantel-Haenszel adjustment. Results Composite adverse neonatal outcomes were more common in prehypertensive women compared to normotensive women (48.67% versus 32.67%), particularly Small-for-Gestation Age (SGA), stillbirth, and composite adverse neonatal outcomes had significantly higher likelihood, with aRRs of 1.63 (95% CI 1.10–2.42, p = 0.037), 9.0 (95% CI 1.15–70.16, p = 0.010), and 1.55 (95% CI 1.16–2.08, p

Conclusion: On average, half of the women with hypertensive disorders have abnormal CPR. Women with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia are more likely to have abnormal CPR. Obstetric Doppler studies with CPR may be warranted for all pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. We recommend further research to assess perinatal outcomes among those with and without abnormal CPR to profile women with HDP at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Abstract Background High-risk HPV is considered a major risk factor for the development of cervical cancer, the most common malignancy among women in Uganda. However, there is a paucity of updated epidemiological data on the extent of the burden and factors associated with hr-HPV infection among women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of hr-HPV and associated factors among women of reproductive age attending a rural teaching hospital in western Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to June 2022. A total of 216 women of reproductive age attending the gynecological outpatient clinic were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect participant characteristics, cervical specimens were collected by clinicians, and molecular HPV testing was performed using the Cepheid Xpert HPV DNA test. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression were conducted using SPSS version 22. Results The prevalence of hr-HPV was 16.67%. Other hr-HPV types other than HPV 16 and 18 were predominant, with a prevalence of 10.6%; HPV 18/45 (2.31%), HPV 16 (0.46%), and 3.24% of the study participants had more than one hr-HPV genotype. On multivariate logistic regression, an HIV-positive status (aOR = 7.06, CI: 2.77–10.65, p = 0.007), having 3 or more sexual partners in life (aOR = 15.67, CI: 3.77–26.14, p = 0.008) and having an ongoing abnormal vaginal discharge (aOR = 5.37, CI: 2.51–11.49, p = 0.002) were found to be independently associated with hr-HPV infection. Conclusions and recommendations The magnitude of hr-HPV is still high compared to the global prevalence. HIV-positive women and those in multiple sexual relationships should be prioritized in cervical cancer screening programs. The presence of abnormal vaginal discharge in gynecology clinics should prompt HPV testing.

Abstract Background Emergency obstetric referrals develop adverse maternal–fetal outcomes partly due to delays in offering appropriate care at referral hospitals especially in resource limited settings. Referral hospitals do not get prior communication of incoming referrals leading to inadequate preparedness and delays of care. Phone based innovations may bridge such communication challenges. We investigated effect of a phone call communication prior to referral of mothers in labour as intervention to reduce preparation delays and improve maternal–fetal outcome at a referral hospital in a resource limited setting. Methods This was a quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group conducted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in South Western Uganda from September 2020 to March 2021. Adverse maternal–fetal outcomes included: early neonatal death, fresh still birth, obstructed labour, ruptured uterus, maternal sepsis, low Apgar score, admission to neonatal ICU and hysterectomy. Exposure variable for intervention group was a phone call prior maternal referral from a lower health facility. We compared distribution of clinical characteristics and adverse maternal–fetal outcomes between intervention and control groups using Chi square or Fisher’s exact test. We performed logistic regression to assess association between independent variables and adverse maternal–fetal outcomes. Results We enrolled 177 participants: 75 in intervention group and 102 in control group. Participants had similar demographic characteristics. Three quarters (75.0%) of participants in control group delayed on admission waiting bench of MRRH compared to (40.0%) in intervention group [p =

Abstract Background Oligohydramnios is associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. In low-resource countries, including Uganda, oligohydramnios is under-detected due to the scarcity of ultrasonographic services. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of oligohydramnios among women with pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Southwestern Uganda. Methods We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study from November 2019 to March 2020. Included were women at gestational age > 36 weeks. Excluded were women with ruptured membranes, those in active labour, and those with multiple pregnancies. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to capture demographic, obstetric, and clinical characteristics of the study participants. We determined oligohydramnios using an amniotic fluid index (AFI) obtained using an ultrasound scan. Oligohydramnios was diagnosed in participants with AFI ≤ 5 cm. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with oligohydramnios. Results We enrolled 426 women with a mean age of 27 (SD ± 5.3) years. Of the 426 participants, 40 had oligohydramnios, for a prevalence of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.8–12.6%). Factors found to be significantly associated with oligohydramnios were history of malaria in pregnancy (aOR = 4.6; 95%CI: 1.5–14, P = 0.008), primegravidity (aOR = 3.7; 95%CI: 1.6–6.7, P = 0.002) and increasing gestational age; compared to women at 37–39 weeks, those at 40–41 weeks (aOR = 2.5; 95%CI: 1.1–5.6, P = 0.022), and those at > 41 weeks (aOR = 6.0; 95%CI: 2.3–16, P = 0.001) were more likely to have oligohydramnios. Conclusion Oligohydramnios was detected in approximately one out of every ten women seeking care at MRRH, and it was more common among primigravidae, those with a history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies. We recommend increased surveillance for oligohydramnios in the third trimester, especially among prime gravidas, those with history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies, in order to enable prompt detection of this complication and plan timely interventions. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess clinical outcomes in women with oligohydramnios in our setting.

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.

Abstract Background There is a paucity of recent prospective data on the incidence of postpartum infections and associated risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa. Retrospective studies estimate that puerperal sepsis causes approximately 10% of maternal deaths in Africa. Methods We enrolled 4231 women presenting to a Ugandan regional referral hospital for delivery or postpartum care into a prospective cohort and measured vital signs postpartum. Women developing fever (> 38.0 °C) or hypothermia (

Introduction. The proportion of women with severe maternal morbidity from obstructed labor is between 2 and 12% in resource-limited settings. Maternal vaginal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS), Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus spp. is associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity. It is unknown if vaginal colonization with these organisms in obstructed labor women is associated with poor outcomes. Objectives. To determine whether vaginal colonization with GBS, E. coli, or Enterococcus is associated with increased morbidity among women with obstructed labor and to determine the risk factors for colonization and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Methods. We screened all women presenting in labor to Uganda’s Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital maternity ward from April to October 2015 for obstructed labor. Those meeting criteria had vaginal swabs collected prior to Cesarean delivery and surgical antibiotic prophylaxis. Swabs were inoculated onto sterile media for routine bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results. Overall, 2,168 women were screened and 276 (13%) women met criteria for obstructed labor. Vaginal swabs were collected from 272 women (99%), and 170 (64%) were colonized with a potential pathogen: 49% with E. coli, 5% with GBS, and 8% with Enterococcus. There was no difference in maternal and fetal clinical outcomes between those colonized and not colonized. The number of hours in labor was a significant independent risk factor for vaginal colonization (aOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, P=0.04). Overall, 38% of GBS was resistant to penicillin; 61% of E. coli was resistant to ampicillin, 4% to gentamicin, and 5% to ceftriaxone and cefepime. All enterococci were ampicillin and vancomycin susceptible. Conclusion. There was no difference in maternal or neonatal morbidity between women with vaginal colonization with E. coli, GBS, and Enterococcus and those who were not colonized. Duration of labor was associated with increased risk of vaginal colonization in women with obstructed labor.

Puerperal sepsis causes 10% of maternal deaths in Africa, but prospective studies on incidence, microbiology and antimicrobial resistance are lacking.We performed a prospective cohort study of 4,231 Ugandan women presenting to a regional referral hospital for delivery or postpartum care, measured vital signs after delivery, performed structured physical exam, symptom questionnaire, and microbiologic evaluation of febrile and hypothermic women. Malaria rapid diagnostic testing, blood and urine cultures were performed aseptically and processed at Epicentre Mbarara Research Centre. Antimicrobial susceptibility and breakpoints were determined using disk diffusion per EUCAST standards. Hospital diagnoses, treatments and outcomes were abstracted from patient charts.Mean age was 25 years, 12% were HIV-infected, and 50% had cesarean deliveries. Approximately 5% (205/4176) with ≥1 temperature measurement recorded developed postpartum fever or hypothermia; blood and urine samples were collected from 174 (85%), and 17 others were evaluated clinically. Eighty-four (48%) had at least one confirmed source of infection: 39% (76/193) clinical postpartum endometritis, 14% (25/174) urinary tract infection (UTI), 3% (5/174) bloodstream infection. Another 3% (5/174) had malaria. Overall, 30/174 (17%) had positive blood or urine cultures, and Acinetobacter species were the most common bacteria isolated. Of 25 Gram-negatives isolated, 20 (80%) were multidrug-resistant and cefepime non-susceptible.For women in rural Uganda with postpartum fever, we found a high rate of antibiotic resistance among cultured urinary and bloodstream infections, including cephalosporin-resistant Acinetobacter species. Increasing availability of microbiology testing to inform appropriate antibiotic use, development of antimicrobial stewardship programs, and strengthening infection control practices should be high priorities.

BACKGROUND:Accurate estimation of blood loss is central to prompt diagnosis and management of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH), which remains a leading cause of maternal mortality in low-resource countries. In such settings, blood loss is often estimated visually and subjectively by attending health workers, due to inconsistent availability of laboratory infrastructure. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of weighed blood loss (WBL) versus changes in peri-partum hemoglobin to detect PPH. METHODS:Data from this analysis were collected as part of a randomized controlled trial comparing oxytocin with misoprostol for PPH (NCT01866241). Blood samples for complete blood count were drawn on admission and again prior to hospital discharge or before blood transfusion. During delivery, women were placed on drapes and had pre-weighed sanitary towels placed around their perineum. Blood was then drained into a calibrated container and the sanitary towels were added to estimate WBL, where each gram of blood was estimated as a milliliter. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (PPVs) were calculated at various blood volume loss and time combinations, and we fit receiver-operator curves using blood loss at 1, 2, and 24 hours compared to a reference standard of haemoglobin decrease of >10%. RESULTS:A total of 1,140 women were enrolled in the study, of whom 258 (22.6%) developed PPH, defined as a haemoglobin drop >10%, and 262 (23.0%) had WBL ≥500mL. WBL generally had a poor sensitivity for detection of PPH (85%) in high prevalence settings when WBL exceeds 750mL. CONCLUSION:WBL has poor sensitivity but high specificity compared to laboratory-based methods of PPH diagnosis. These characteristics correspond to a high PPV in areas with high PPH prevalence. Although WBL is not useful for excluding PPH, this low-cost, simple and reproducible method is promising as a reasonable method to identify significant PPH in such settings where quantifiable red cell indices are unavailable.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with placental insufficiency and adverse perinatal outcomes—over half (58.9%) of women with HDP at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) have adverse perinatal outcomes. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is an important predictor and prevents approximately 30% of these adverse perinatal outcomes. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with abnormal CPR among women with HDP at MRRH. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study from December 2022 to May 2023 at the high‐risk obstetrics unit of MRRH. We consecutively enrolled all women with hypertensive disorders and gestational ages ≥ 26 weeks and performed obstetric Doppler studies to document the pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) and then calculated the CPR as a ratio of the MCA‐PI and UA‐PI. The prevalence of women with an abnormal CPR ≤ 1.0 was expressed as a percentage. We used robust modified Poisson regression analysis to determine the factors associated with abnormal CPR. Results: We enrolled 128 women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, with a mean age of 28.8 ± 6.3 years. Of these, 67 (52.3%) had abnormal CPR. The factors associated with abnormal CPR were severe pre‐eclampsia (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 5.0, 95% CI: 1.28, 29.14) and eclampsia (aPR: 5.27, 95% CI: 1.11, 34.27). Conclusion: On average, half of the women with hypertensive disorders have abnormal CPR. Women with severe pre‐eclampsia or eclampsia are more likely to have abnormal CPR. Obstetric Doppler studies with CPR may be warranted for all pregnant women with severe pre‐eclampsia and eclampsia. We recommend further research to assess perinatal outcomes among those with and without abnormal CPR to profile women with HDP at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemolysis Elevated Liver Enzymes Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome, a complication of preeclampsia/eclampsia, is associated with severe maternal morbidity and mortality. In resource-limited settings, such as Uganda, gaps in routine laboratory assessments may lead to underdetection of HELLP syndrome. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with HELLP syndrome among pregnant women with preeclampsia/eclampsia at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), southwestern Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the high-risk ward of the MRRH from December 2022 to June 2023. Pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia or eclampsia were enrolled consecutively. Participants' sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The diagnosis of complete HELLP syndrome was made based on the Tennessee classification: aspartate aminotransferase enzyme ≥ 70 IU/L, platelet counts < 100,000 cells/µL, and serum lactate dehydrogenase enzyme ≥ 600 IU/L. We used multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis to determine factors associated with HELLP syndrome. Results: A total of 129 participants with a mean age of 28 ± 6.6 years were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of HELLP syndrome was 18.6% (n = 24; 95% CI: 12.7–26.3%). Independent factors associated with HELLP syndrome were maternal age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 4.96; 95% CI: 1.57–15.65; for mothers aged < 20 years compared to those aged 20–34 years), the presence of epigastric pain (aPR: 5.89; 95% CI: 1.41–14.63), and referral from other health facilities (aPR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.27–7.72). Conclusion: Approximately 2 of the 10 women who presented with preeclampsia or eclampsia had HELLP syndrome. It is more common among teenage mothers, those with a history of epigastric pain and those referred from lower health facilities. Incorporating routine laboratory testing for HELLP syndrome in the diagnostic protocol for preeclampsia or eclampsia, especially among adolescent mothers, those experiencing epigastric pain, and those referred from lower health facilities, could enhance timely detection and management of mothers with preeclampsia whose pregnancies are complicated by HELLP syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women worldwide. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus among women attending the antenatal care clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South-Western Uganda. Methods: this was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among women at ≥24 weeks of amenorrhea attending the antenatal care clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital between December 2020 and March 2021. We screened all women for gestational diabetes mellitus using the World Health Organization 2013 diagnostic criteria. We obtained socio-demographic, medical, and obstetric data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the factors independently associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Results: we enrolled 343 pregnant women with a mean age of 27.3 (SD ±12.3) years. Of the 343 participants, 35 (10.2%) had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (95% C.I: 7.4%-13.9%) and 7 (2%) had diabetes in pregnancy. The factors significantly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus were; previous history of foetal macrosomia in any of the previous pregnancies (aOR: 5.53, 95% C.I: 1.29-23.65) and family history of diabetes mellitus in the first-degree relatives (aOR: 4.45, 95% C.I:1.48-13.34). Conclusion: one in every ten pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is likely to have gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. There is a need to strengthen routine testing for gestational diabetes mellitus among women attending the antenatal care clinic, especially pregnant women with a prior history of foetal macrosomia and a family history of diabetes mellitus in first-degree relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We established the prevalence and predictors of persisting hypertension in women with preeclampsia admitted at the Carlos Manuel de Cèspedes Teaching Hospital in Cuba so as to guide the health-care providers in early identification of the patients at risk for timely intervention. Patients and Methods: A three-year prospective cohort study was conducted between March 2017 and March 2020. A cohort of 178 women diagnosed with preeclampsia at the hypertension unit of Carlos Manuel de Cèspedes Teaching Hospital were recruited. Interviewer administered questionnaires and laboratory and ultrasound scan result forms were used to collect the data. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine the predictors. All data analyses were conducted using STATA version 14.2. Results: Forty-five (27.8%) of the studied 162 patients were still hypertensive at 12 weeks postpartum. Maternal age of 35 years or more (aRR=1.14,95% CI:1.131– 4.847, p=0.022), early onset preeclampsia (before 34 weeks of gestation) (aRR=7.93, 95% CI:1.812– 34.684, p=0.006), and elevated serum creatinine levels of more than 0.8mg/dl (aRR=1.35, 95% CI:1.241– 3.606, p=0.032) were the independent predictors of persisting hypertension at 12 weeks postpartum. Conclusion: Recognition of these predictors and close follow-up of patients with preeclampsia will improve the ability to diagnose and monitor women likely to develop persisting hypertension before its onset for timely interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a tertiary hospital. Methods. Cross-sectional study where 309 pregnant women ≥ thirty-five weeks of gestation attending antenatal clinic were consecutively recruited between January and March 2015. Anovaginal swabs were collected and tested qualitatively using rapid visual immunoassay GBS test kits for presence of GBS antigens. Data was analyzed using STATA version 12. In univariate analysis, GBS colonized mothers were presented as percentages and numbers, and in multivariate analysis logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the associations of exposure variable and GBS colonization; a value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results. Mothers’ median age was 25 years, 14.6% mothers being obese. GBS prevalence was 28.8%, 95% CI: 23.7–33.9. Obesity was the only significant factor associated with anogenital GBS colonization with odds ratio of 3.78, 95% CI: 1.78–8.35, a p value of 0.001. Maternal ages, educational level, residence, and gravidity were not associated with GBS anogenital colonization. Conclusion. Group B streptococcal anogenital colonization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at tertiary hospital, in Southwestern Uganda, is high.