Surgical site infection and its associated factors following cesarean section in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of surgical site infection following cesarean section at Felegehiwot referral hospital, Amhara, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2018. An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2018, at Felegehiwot referral hospital. Retrospective chart review was implemented on 383 women who gave birth via cesarean section at Felegehiwot hospital from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was implemented to select patient medical charts. RESULTS: This study revealed that the prevalence of surgical site infection following cesarean section was 7.8% with the [95% CI 5.2–10.5%]. Rupture of membrane before cesarean section (AOR = 13.9, 95% CI 2.99–64.8), vertical skin incision/longitudinal abdominal incision (AOR = 4.77, 95% CI 1.74–13.06), duration of operation lasting longer than 30 min (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI 1.8–13.1), interrupted skin closure technique (AOR = 6.29, 95% CI 2.07–19.11) were statistically associated with surgical site infection following cesarean section. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4325-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.