UTERINE RUPTURE: RISK FACTORS AND OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY CENTRE IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA –A FIVE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW

ABSTRACT Uterine rupture remains a catastrophic obstetric emergency in sub-Saharan Africa. This retrospective descriptive caseseries at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, analyzed 91 confirmed cases over five years (2018–2022). While the total number of deliveries during this period was unavailable to calculate a precise incidence rate, the study identified critical risk factors and outcomes. Most patients were multiparous (61.5%) and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (87.9%). Primary risk factors included prolonged labour (56.0%), injudicious oxytocin use (56.0%), and previous uterine scars (29.7%). Surgical management involved uterine repair with bilateral tubal ligation (46.1%) or subtotal hysterectomy (42.9%). Maternal morbidity was severe, primarily due to anaemia (95.6%), with a case fatality rate of 3.3%. Fetal outcomes were dismal, with a 94.5% stillbirth rate. These findings suggest that uterine rupture in this setting is potentially preventable through improved antenatal uptake, regulated uterotonic use, and optimized referral networks. Clinical implications include the urgent need for audit-andfeedback mechanisms, such as Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), to mitigate systemic delays and improve emergency obstetric response in North-Eastern Nigeria.