A Study On the Effect of Preprom On Expectant Mothers Attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital Dating from February 2002 To 25th July 2013

Abstract Membrane rupture occurs before 37weeks of gestation is known as preterm PROM (PPROM). Preterm PROM complicates approximately 3% of pregnancies and leads to one third of preterm births. It also increases the risk for prematurity and leads to a number of other perinatal and neonatal complications including a 1 to 2% risk of fetal death (Meiss, 1987). It can also lead to significant perinatal morbidity including respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, umbilical cord prolapsed, placental abruption and fetal death. It was therefore imperative to carry out this research with the aim of determining the maternal and fetal outcomes as a result of PPROM dating from February 2002 to 25th July 2013. This was a retrospective study carried out in Ishaka Adventist hospital in Ishaka town using the records of 207 patients dating from February 2002 to 25th July 2013. Using the data obtained, the most common management modalities, maternal and fetal outcomes were determined. The most common perinatal outcome of PPROM was fetal survival at 100% at a gestational age of 24 – 26weeks, 60% at a gestational age of 23weeks and 12.1% at a gestational age of less than 23weeks. The most common fetal complication noted was Respiratory Distress Syndrome that was suffered by 100% of the neonates and the most applied management modality used on the mothers was antibiotic use at 61.35%. The most common cause of PPROM was gestational diabetes at 49.76%. These findings illustrate the dire need for the integration of maternal health services from the level of policy making to physician levels to improve on the outcomes of PPROM in Uganda.