Awareness of Obstetric Fistula and Associated Factors Among Women in Reproductive Age Group Attending Public Hospitals, Ilubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State, South West Ethiopia, 2021

Abstract

Background: Obstetric fistula occurs in all developing countries but it is confined to the “fistula belt” across the northern half of Sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania to Eritrea and in the developing countries of the Middle East and Asia. Ending obstetric fistula is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development by 2030. So creating awareness on obstetrics fistula among women in reproductive age group have crucial role in reducing morbidity, mortality and social stigma.Objective: To assess awareness on obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive age women attending governmental hospitals in Ilubabor zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2021.Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted. The sample size was estimated by using a single population proportion formula. The collected data was coded and entered to Epi data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 24 for descriptive and inferential analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) along with 95% confidence level was estimated to assess the strength of the association and a p value <0.05 was considered to declare the statistical significance in the multivariable analysis in this study.Result: In this study a total of 400 clients were participated in the study. The mean ages of participants were 30.26 (SD±8.525) years old. Education of women’s who cannot read and write are 85% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above secondary level of education (AOR=0.162:95% CI (0.081-0.364)). While Women’s who have primary education level are 83% less likely to have good awareness than women who are above secondary level of education (AOR=0.170:95% CI (0.085-0.446)).In addition, my study shows women’s who haven’t heard about obstetric complication are 54% less likely to have awareness on obstetric fistula than those who heard about obstetric complication (AOR=0.458:95% CI (0.368-0.643). Conclusion: This study identifies that, educational level of women, history of pregnancy, distance to the nearby health institution and awareness on obstetrics complications were the factors associated with awareness of reproductive age women on obstetrics fistula. Hence, increasing awareness on obstetric fistula plays a key role to avert this problem.