The Predictors of Intent to Prevent Obstetric Fistula Recurrence Among Women with Fistula in Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula recurrence predisposes to a decreasing success rate of fistula repair and accounts for the continued incidence of obstetric fistulas in low-income countries. Evidence has revealed that there are women’s intent gaps in the prevention of obstetric fistula recurrence. Assessments of predictors of intent to prevent obstetric fistula recurrence among women with fistula are scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the intent to prevent obstetric fistula recurrence and its predictive factors among women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01, 2019, to August 01, 2019, with consecutively selected 478 women with fistulas in five fistula treatment centers in Addis Ababa and Oromia regions. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 23 software. Simple and multiple linear regression models were fitted for data analysis. RESULTS: Mean score of intent to prevent obstetric fistula recurrence among women with obstetric fistula was 27.72 ± 5.06. Living in a rural setting (β =−2.27; 95% CI: −3.62, −0.93), being married (β =1.71, 95% CI: 0.56, 2.85), having one previous repair (β =2.14, 95% CI: 0.19, 4.08), high self-esteem (β =1.42, 95% CI: 0.09, 2.74), psychological health (β =0.05, 95% CI: 0.26, 3.79), living with fistula ≥5 years (β =1.82, 95% CI: 0.44, 3.21), high knowledge of risk factors (β =3.12, 95% CI: 1.99, 4.25), and a positive attitude (β =2.33, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.54) were significant predictors of the intent to prevent obstetric fistula recurrence. CONCLUSION: Intent to prevent obstetric fistula recurrence among women with obstetric fistula was low. This indicates an urgent need to create awareness among women with an obstetric fistula on the risk factors of obstetric fistula recurrence, attitudinal changes towards prevention of obstetric fistula recurrence, and the availability of prevention measures.