Risk factors of prelabor rupture of membranes at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri: A cross-sectional study

Background: Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) is a common obstetrics problem associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Patients and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study to determine the risk factors for PROM among women presenting to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri. It was conducted between 1st May 2016 and 28th February 2017. Sociodemographic and obstetrics variables were obtained from the patients, and risk factors such as previous preterm delivery, previous PROM, miscarriages, fever, abnormal vaginal discharge, urinary tract infection, abdominal distension, trauma, and coitus were sought. For each patient, an endocervical swab, high vaginal swab, and urine samples were taken for microbacteriologic studies. The next patient without PROM is used as control. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. A total of 258 (129 with PROM and another 129 without PROM) were analyzed. Results: The mean age, gestational age, and parity were 27 ± 6 years, 33 ± 0.3 weeks, and 1 ± 0.92, respectively. A majority of the women (55%) had parity between 1 and 4. Term PROM recorded the highest frequency [49 (37.9%)]. Previous history of PROM [odds ratio (OR) 5.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.31–11.62], history of Preterm Delivery (OR 3.26, 95% CI: 1.16– 9.19), low socioeconomic status (OR 1.95 95%, CI: 1.15–3.31), and genitourinary infection are highly predictive of PROM. Conclusion: The modifiable or treatable risk factors should be addressed during the antenatal care to reduce the risk of PROM. High-risk patients should be counseled and monitored closely to optimize pregnancy outcomes.