Knowledge of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Northwestern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula has been a major maternal health challenges in low and middle-income countries, especially in Ethiopia, due to high child marriage and poor access to healthcare. Obstetric fistula is common among teenage mothers that results in a vast social, economic and cultural sequel. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of research evidence on women’s knowledge about obstetric fistula. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women’s knowledge about obstetric fistula and its associated factors at Banja District, Northwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from 1st -21th July 2021. Systematic sampling method was used to recruit 784 women in the reproductive age from six rural and one urban sub-districts. Two days of training was given to research assistants regarding the objective of the study, inclusion and exclusion criteria, checking completeness and ways of protecting confidentiality. Data were collected using face-to-face interview method. Collected data were entered into EpiData and exported into SPSS version 24 for cleaning and analysis. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to identify associated factors. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% CI with p < 0.05 was used to declare significant association with women’s knowledge of obstetric fistula. RESULTS: A total of 773 women gave a complete response with response rate of 98.6% (773/784). One-third (36.4%; 95%CI: 32.9-39.7%) had good knowledge about obstetric fistula. Women who had completed primary education (AOR:3.47, 95%CI:2.01–5.98), secondary and above (AOR:3.30, 95%CI:1.88–5.80), being a student (AOR: 6.78, 95%CI:3.88–11.86), get counseling about obstetric fistula (AOR:6.22, 95%CI: 3.78–10.24), participated in pregnant women’s discussion forum (AOR:3.36, 95%CI: 1.99–5.66), had 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 to Television/Radio (AOR:1.68, 95%CI:1.10–2.60) were significantly associated with women’s good knowledge about obstetric fistula. CONCLUSION: Women’s knowledge about obstetric fistula is unacceptably low. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should enhance awareness creation programs, strengthen antenatal care, counselling and women’s discussion forum that could substantially optimize women’s knowledge about obstetric fistula and its risk factors of obstetric fistula.