Post Caesarean Section Wound Healing and Factors that Affected Outcome in a Teaching Hospital in Southeast Nigeria

Caesarean section is the delivery of a foetus through surgical incisions in the abdominal and uterine walls. A rise in the rates has been reported, and many may be medically unnecessary but may still be associated with wound complications. Studies evaluating the post caesarean section wound complications and associated risk factors are sparse, and the few available are retrospective. The study aimed to determine the quality of wound healing after caesarean section and elicit factors that may affect outcome. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective observational study carried out in a Teaching Hospital in South-East Nigeria. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. The information obtained included the socio-demographic data, the pre-, intra-, and the post-operative data including wound characteristics assessed with modified ASEPSIS wound score. Data obtained was analysed with SPSS version 29. Chi square (X2) was used to test for significance and values < 0.05 was considered significant. Results were presented in tables, charts, and prose. Results: 134 women were delivered by caesarean section (37.6%). The mean ASEPSIS score was 4.8. Seventy-eight percent had satisfactory healing while others had various grades of wound complications. The average body mass index (BMI) was 30.3 kg/m2 ± 6.3 kg/m2 (SD). The mean haematocrit value was 31.7% ± 6.3% while the mean estimated blood loss was 426.45ml ±165.09 (SD). The BMI, haematocrit and blood loss were among the factors that affected outcome. Conclusion: About 22% of patients had various forms of wound challenges with associated factors elicited. Efforts at controlling these factors will improve outcome.