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Table 3 Knowledge about obstetric fistula among women in Banja District, Northwestern Ethiopia, July 2021(n = 773)

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

Variables

Category

n

%

Ever heard of obstetric fistula?

Yes

299

38.7

No

474

61.3

Source of information

Health professional

198

25.6

School

132

17.1

Mass media (radio, TV)

43

5.6

Family/friend

37

4.8

Others*

12

1.6

Know the type of fistula?

Yes

105

13.6

No

668

86.4

Type of obstetric fistula

Recto-Vaginal Fistula (RVF)

4

3.8

Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF)

6

5.7

Both

95

90.5

Know the sign/symptoms of obstetric fistula?

Yes

256

33.1

No

517

66.9

Know sign/symptoms of obstetric fistula

Urinary incontinency

255

33.0

Faecal incontinency

253

32.7

Vulvar irritation

86

11.1

Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

172

22.3

Leakage of gas/faeces into the vagina

79

10.2

Pain while having sex

17

2.2

Know the causes/risk factors of obstetric fistula?

Yes

228

29.5

No

545

70.5

Causes/risk factors of obstetric fistula

Prolonged labor

208

26.9

Obstructed labor

151

19.5

Childhood malnutrition

30

3.9

Operative delivery

17

2.2

Early marriage

207

26.8

Younger age

9

1.2

Home delivery

163

21.1

Unspaced childbirth

32

4.1

Lack of obstetrics care

80

10.3

Is obstetric fistula preventable?

Yes

291

37.6

No

482

62.4

Prevention methods of obstetric fistula

Delaying the age of first pregnancy

266

34.4

Cessation of harmful traditional practices

235

30.4

Timely visit/seeking of skilled obstetric care

223

28.8

Avoiding poverty

149

19.3

Empowering women and female education

191

24.7

Skilled care at birth

188

24.3

Family planning use

119

15.4

Is obstetric fistula a treatable condition?

Yes

325

42.0

No

448

58.0

Type of treatment mentioned

Medical treatment

317

39.5

Overall knowledge about obstetric fistula

Good knowledge

281

36.4

Poor knowledge

492

63.6

  1. Others*: fistula victim, community meeting, TV (television)