Background Uterine rupture is one of the major obstetric complications, associated with adverse fetal and maternal outcomes including hemorrhage, genital urinary injury, low Apgar scores, fetomaternal deaths. There is a paucity of data regarding uterine rupture and its consequences among pregnant women in Mwanza, Tanzania. As a result, it is difficult to know the magnitude of the problem and formulate appropriate measures to reduce its incidence. This study was thus conducted to determine the cumulative incidence, risk factors, fetal and maternal outcomes among women with uterine rupture managed at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), Mwanza-Tanzania.Methods This was a 5-year (2013 to 2017) retrospective descriptive study of cases of uterine rupture at BMC. The case files were collected from medical records department and maternal demographic information, clinical presentation, risk factors, interventions and feto-maternal outcomes were extracted using a checklist. Data were analyzed using STATA software version 13.Results There were 37,763 deliveries within five years. Caesarean section accounted for a quarter (n=9,136) of these deliveries. During this period 81 cases of ruptured uterus were identified, making a cumulative incidence of 2.2 cases per 1,000 deliveries. Common risk factors for uterine rupture were history of previous caesarean section 54% (n=36), obstructed labor 37% (n=25), grandmultiparity 19.4% (n=13) and use of oxytocin 21% (n=14). Maternal case fatality rate in this study was 1.5% (n=1). More than half of cases had hysterectomy while about a third (n=25) had uterine repair without bilateral tubal ligation (BTL). Over 80% (n=55) of cases required blood transfusion. Sepsis developed in 21% (n=14) of cases and vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) in 12% (n=8). Perinatal case fatality rate was 72% (n=48). Out of the 24 babies who were born alive, 37.5% (n=9) had low Apgar scores and 20.8% (n=5) died before discharge.Conclusion The leading risk factor for uterine rupture seen was previous caesarean scar and obstructed labor associated with high perinatal case fatality rate. Improvement in monitoring of patients in labor is necessary to detect early features of uterine rupture, obstructed labour and fetal compromise. This will contribute to reduced incidence of uterine rupture and improve fetomaternal outcomes.
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