Factors associated with puerperal infection in the maternity unit of a hospital school in São Paulo

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with puerperal infection in postpartum women from January 2017 to January 2019; to associate puerperal infection with socio-demographic variables; and to associate delivery mode with puerperal infection. Method: The locus of study was the maternity unit of a hospital in the state of São Paulo. This was an exploratory, quantitative and retrospective study which employed the χ2 test at a 5% significance level. Data collection took place exclusively in medical records after approval by the Ethics and Research Committee through opinion n. 3,144,647. Results: The postpartum group studied was composed of young adult housewives, in domestic partnership, with completed high school education, who rely on the Unified Health System. The variables that showed dependence were: surgical wound classification and education (p = 0.035); the classification of signs and symptoms and marital status; and the classification of the therapeutic plan and the revaluation of the surgical wound (p = 0.067). The predominant clinical antecedents were smoking, asthma and systemic arterial hypertension. As for delivery conditions, they was marked by attempted induction, frequent vaginal touches and cesarean outcome. Conclusion: The results reinforce the relation between cesarean section and puerperal infection, showing evidence of invasive procedure and higher incidence of cases of puerperal sepsis after cesarean section.