KNOWLEDGE OF OBSTETRIC FISTULA AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN BANJA DISTRICT, AWI ZONE, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Obstetric fistula is one of the major maternal health challenges in low and middle-income countries that affected millions of women worldwide. Obstetric fistula is common among teenage mothers that results in the vast social, economic and cultural sequels. Having good knowledge of obstetric fistula is the best option to prevent its occurrence and enormous complications. In Ethiopia, particularly in the study area, there is a paucity of research on women's knowledge about obstetric fistula. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women's knowledge about obstetric fistula at Banja District, Northwestern Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the knowledge of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among women of reproductive age at Banja District, Awi zone, Amhara Regional State, Northwestern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based quantitative cross-sectional study design was conducted from July 01- 21/2021 at Banja District, Northwestern Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to recruit 784 participants from six rural and one urban kebele. Pre-tested structured questioners were used for the face to-face interview method of data collection. The collected data were entered into Epi Data version 4.2 and imported to SPSS window version 24 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to compute knowledge of obstetric fistula and to determine factors associated with knowledge of obstetric fistula. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval and P-value <0.05 was used to declare significant association between independent and dependent variables. Results: The overall knowledge of women about obstetric fistula was found to be (36.4% (95%CI: 32.9%-39.7%). Women who had completed primary education (AOR:3.47, 95%CI:2.01-5.98), secondary and above education (AOR:3.30, 95%CI:1.88-5.80), being a student (AOR: 6.78, 95%CI:3.88-11.86), get counselling about obstetric fistula (AOR:6.22, 95%CI: 3.78-10.24), participated in pregnant women conference (AOR:3.36, 95%CI: 1.99-5.66), having antenatal care follow-up (AOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.39- 4.13), being an urban resident (AOR: 3.19, 95% CI: 1.33-7.66),and having access toTV/radio (AOR:1.68, 95%CI:1.10-2.60) were significantly associated with women's knowledge about obstetric fistula. Conclusion and recommendation: In general merely one-third of childbearing women were knowledgeable about obstetric fistula. Predictors that were positively associate with outcome variable were Women's level of education and occupation, received counselling about obstetric fistula, participated in pregnant women conference, having antenatal care follow-up, being an urban resident and having television/radio. Therefore, empowering women in education, promoting antenatal care, and reinforcing pregnant women's counselling conference platforms could substantially optimize women's knowledge of obstetric fistula.