Objective: To determine the incidence, causes, management, and the means of prevention of uterine rupture, as well as the characteristics of women with the condition, recorded in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.
Design: A retrospective study between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2001.
Results: During the study period, of 82061 deliveries at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 193 women developed uterine rupture, an incidence of 2.4 per 1000 deliveries. Of these 193 women, 24.6% had had a previous Caesarean section. The most frequent associated factor of uterine rupture was prolonged labour (33.6%). The perinatal mortality rate was 74.3%. Almost 70% (66.9%) of women underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy as management. The case fatality rate was 1.0%.
Conclusion: A more vigilant approach to preventing prolonged and obstructed labour in delivery units within and around Accra, Ghana, is required to reduce the incidence of this condition.