Epidemiological Aspects of Obstetric Fistula in Ethiopia: Its Prevalence and Determinants

Background: Obstetric Fistula (OF) remains a major public health problem in areas where unattended obstructed labor is common and maternal mortality is high. Obstetric Fistula had prevented, treated and controlled in high-income countries; however, still it affects many women in low income countries. Objective: To show the prevalence and determinants of Obstetric Fistula using the 2005 EDHS dataset.  

Methods: The study used dataset of women from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS 2005). The survey sample was designed to provide national, urban/rural, and regional representative estimates of key health and demographic indicators. The data were analyzed to determine factors associated with OF and its prevalence.     

Results: a total of 14,070 women age 15-49 years were included in EDHS 2005. Out of these, 3,269 (23.24%) women have ever heard of obstetric fistula, 110 (3.41%) had experienced obstetric fistula and of these only 34(30.9%) were treated. The women who reside in urban [0.54(0.34-0.87)] and attended primary education [0.18(0.08- 0.41)] were 46% and 82% less likely to experience OF than rural residents with no education. Women who had give to birth more than 9 children [2.63(1.34-5.15)] and within 45-49 years were [2.78(1.04-7.44)] times more likely to experience OF than these who had 1-4 children and within 15-19 years. Women who delivered at any health facility 77% [0.23(0.08-0.64)] and women from rich wealth group 68% [0.32(0.12-0.84)] were less likely to develop OF than these who delivered at home and the poor wealth group, respectively.       

Conclusions: obstetric fistula is a major public health concern in Ethiopia. Parity, age, educational status and residence are key factors for OF. Expanding and accessing service deliveries to obstetric care through middle level trained attendants for rural women are recommended.  

Number of Words=280