Maternal mortality rates remain high (882/100,000 births) in the Central African Republic (CAR), primarily due to frequent obstetric complications. Médecins Sans Frontières supports a referral maternity ward in the capital, Bangui.

To describe the prevalence, associated factors and fatality of one of the most severe complications, uterine rupture, as well as the effect of a history of uterine surgery.

This is a cross-sectional study based on retrospectively collected data between January 2018 and December 2021 for women who delivered new-borns weighing over 1,000 g.

Of 38,782 deliveries, 229 (0.6%) cases of uterine rupture were recorded. Factors associated with uterine rupture were parity ⩾5 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6-12.2), non-occipital foetal presentation (aOR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1-3.7) and macrosomia (OR 4, 95% CI 2.6-6.4). The fatality rate was 4.4%, and the stillbirth rate was 64%. Uterine rupture occurred in non-scarred uterus in 150 (66.1%) women. Adverse outcomes were more common in cases of uterine rupture on non-scarred uterus compared to scarred uterus, with higher maternal mortality (6% vs. 0%, P = 0.023) and lower Apgar scores (<2) for new-borns (69.1% vs. 45.8%, P < 0.001).

Uterine rupture remains a major issue for maternal and perinatal health in the CAR, and efforts are needed to early detect risk factors and increase coverage of the comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care.