PREVALENCE OF PRETERM PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ADMITTED TO WOLKITE UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, WOLKITE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a common obstetric complication associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of PPROM among 199 pregnant mothers admitted to Wolkite University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Central Ethiopia, from December 2025 to January 2026. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted using systematic random sampling. Data collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and chart reviews were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. The overall prevalence of PPROM was 11.6% (95% CI: 7.1–16.1). Factors significantly associated with PPROM included a history of abortions (AOR=5.7, 95% CI: 1.725–18.921), urinary tract infection (AOR=4.3, 95% CI: 1.074–17.4), a history of vaginal bleeding in the current pregnancy (AOR=18.07, 95% CI: 3.7–87), and residing in rural areas (AOR=3.54, 95% CI: 1.18–10.61). The prevalence of PPROM in this setting is high. To mitigate this burden, the hospital should transition toward universal, laboratorybased screening for infections and provide intensified surveillance for mothers with high-risk obstetric histories.