Risk Factors of Antepartum Hemorrhage Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Suhul General Hospital, 2016: A Case–Control Study

BACKGROUND: Antepartum hemorrhage is a very serious problem and contributes significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia. Identification of risk factors of antepartum hemorrhage will help for prevention and control programs. METHODS: An institutional-based case–control study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2016. A simple random sampling technique was employed, and 420 mothers’ medical cards were reviewed using a pretested checklist. The data were entered in to EPI-info version 7 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis, and all variables with a P-value<0.2 at bivariate logistic regression analysis were considered as a candidate for multivariate logistic regression analysis, and those variables with a P-value<0.05 in multiple logistic regression analysis were considered as significantly associated at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Results of the multiple logistic regression showed that those mothers whose age was in the range of 35–44 years were significantly 4-times more likely to present with antepartum hemorrhage as compared to mothers in the age range of 15–24 years. Moreover, mothers who presented with a previous history of cesarean section were 4.7-times more likely to present with antepartum hemorrhage than those who had no previous history of cesarean section. Furthermore, women with a previous history of abortion were 2-times more likely to develop antepartum hemorrhage as compared to women who had no previous history of abortion. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: In this study, the factors found to be risk factors of antepartum hemorrhage were maternal age, previous history of cesarean section, and previous history of abortion. Strategies towards reduction of unwanted pregnancy to prevent abortion, pregnancy at advanced age, and to reduce the cesarean section rate should be emphasized.