ABSTRACT
Uterine rupture remains a life-threatening obstetric emergency with significant maternal and
perinatal consequences. Despite declining incidence in high-income countries (0.02–0.04%), rates
remain unacceptably high in resource-limited settings like Nigeria. This study aimed to determine
the incidence, risk factors, management patterns, and outcomes of uterine rupture at a tertiary
hospital in Bauchi, Nigeria, between 2012 and 2015.
A retrospective review was conducted on 94 confirmed cases of uterine rupture among 13,476
deliveries, yielding an incidence of 0.8% (1 in 125 deliveries). Most affected women were aged
26–30 years (34.0%), uneducated (74.5%), and grandmultiparous (52.1%). Obstructed labor
(55.3%), grandmultiparity (48.9%), and oxytocin misuse (34.0%) were the predominant risk
factors. The majority of ruptures occurred in the lower uterine segment (61.7%), with uterine repair
plus tubal ligation being the most common surgical intervention (63.8%). Maternal mortality was
relatively low (4.3%), but perinatal mortality was extremely high (91.5%). Common complications
included anemia (40.0%) and prolonged hospitalization (30.9%).
These findings reflect persistent systemic gaps in intrapartum care, including poor labor
monitoring and limited access to emergency obstetric services. Urgent improvements in skilled
birth attendance, oxytocin regulation, and functional referral systems are essential to reducing the
burden of uterine rupture in similar low-resource settings.
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