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Awareness of Obstetric Fistula and its Associated Factors among Reproductive-age Group Women in Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest, Ethiopia. Community based Cross-Sectional Study

Zerihun Asefa*, Demisew Amenu, Aster Berhe

Background: Obstetric fistula is, without a doubt, the most severe of pregnancy-related disabilities. While the condition has disappeared in developed countries, it remains a source of concern in Ethiopia and serves as a proxy indicator of the status of Ethiopian women and the availability and access to quality maternal health services. However, to our best knowledge, there was no evidence of the study done in the study setting. Therefore, we tried to assess the awareness of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bench Sheko Zone from February, 15, 2020 to March 15, 2020. Bench-Sheko zone was selected purposively, and the two districts and kebeles were selected randomly. A systematic sampling technique was used to assign 422 households, and kebele registration was used as a sampling frame. Data were managed using Kobo Collect v1.25.1 and descriptive frequency, bivariate, and multivariate regression analyses were performed using Stata version 16.

Results: This finding shows that 40.8% of reproductive group women had a good awareness of obstetrics fistula. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that who can read and write only (AOR=2.5:95% CI (1.2,5.1)), primary level of education (AOR=2.7:95% CI (1.7,4.5), high school and above (AOR=4.1:95% CI (1.6,10.6), ever participated on the Pregnant Women conference (AOR=23.8, 95% CI=5.6,58.7), and those who gave birth in a health institution (AOR=2.5, 95% CI=1.5,4.2) were significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula.

Conclusions and Recommendations: This study revealed that awareness of obstetrics fistula was low. Education status, participation in pregnant women conference, and place of delivery were significantly associated with awareness of obstetrics fistula. This shows there is a gap in awareness of obstetrics fistula; therefore, it is good to emphasize providing information on maternal health care issues, particularly on obstetrics fistula.