| dc.description.abstract | Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common bacterial infections
during pregnancy, associated with serious obstetric complications to both the woman
and her unborn baby. Effective control and management of UTIs requires data about
the current prevalence and associated risk factors, in order to increase awareness among
the risk groups.
Objective: The general objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk
factors of UTI among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Lubaga Hospital.
Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out, involving
retrieval of medical records of 407 pregnant women of at least 20th - 26th weeks of
pregnancy, attending antenatal care at Lubaga Hospital, located on Lubaga Hill in the
western part of Kampala. The data was analysed using STATA 14.1, using logistic
regression model of binary outcomes, reporting odd ratios, and statistical significance
inferred at p-value of less than 5%.
Results: Out of 407 participants, 87 were positive totaling to 21.4%. Only residential
hygiene was statistically significant with p<0.001, OR = 571.26, CI = [145.62,2241.01].
The mean age of the participants was 30.7 years, with a minimum age of 20 and range
of 38 years. Majority of them were between age group of 20-39. 90.8% (79/87) of the
positive diagnosed participants had one sexual partner and 4.6% (4/87) had more than
one sexual partner. 69% (60/87) of the positive diagnosed participants had attained
higher education, with 47.1% (41/87) being employed in the formal sector and 42.5%
(37/87) employed in the informal sector.
Conclusion: The prevalence of UTIs among pregnant women attending antenatal care
at Lubaga Hospital was found to be 21.4% which was significantly high, with only
residential hygiene found to be strongly statistically significant. Screening for UTIs
should be an integral/routine investigation during every session of antenatal care for
early detection of bacteriuria, to reduce its prevalence and associated complications to
both the expectant mother and her unborn baby. | en_US |
