{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T21:50:09Z","timestamp":1792619409966,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Glob. Women\u2019s Health"],"abstract":"Introduction<\/jats:title>Obstetric fistula is a serious and tragic childbirth injury that mainly affects women in resource-limited areas, often leading to social isolation and stigma. While optimal knowledge among women about the prevention, contributing factors, and available treatments for obstetric fistula is crucial for reducing its overall burden, many women in Ethiopia continue to be affected by it and endure its consequences because of a persistent knowledge gap. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge about obstetric fistula and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Ejere Woreda, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Methods<\/jats:title>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among reproductive-age women in Ejere Woreda, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, from 1 to 30 June 2024. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to recruit 770 participants. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, which was then coded and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Variables with a p<\/jats:italic>-value &lt;0.25 in bivariate logistic regression were included in a multivariable logistic regression to identify significant predictors of women's knowledge about obstetric fistula. A p<\/jats:italic>-value &lt;0.05 at a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine statistically significant associations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Results<\/jats:title>The study found that 46.6% (95% CI: 43.1\u201350.3) of women had good knowledge about obstetric fistula. Factors significantly associated with the knowledge level of obstetric fistula included being an urban resident [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)\u2009=\u20094.12, 95% CI: 2.36\u20137.19], access to a TV\/radio at home (AOR\u2009=\u20092.51, 95% CI: 1.19\u20135.25), proximity to health facilities (AOR\u2009=\u20094.88, 95% CI: 2.37\u201310.04), giving birth at health institutions (AOR\u2009=\u20094.62, 95% CI: 2.56\u20138.33), attending pregnant women's conferences (AOR\u2009=\u20093.42, 95% CI: 1.88\u20136.22), and having a history of modern contraceptive use (AOR\u2009=\u20094.82, 95% CI: 2.77\u20138.37).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Conclusion and recommendations<\/jats:title>Nearly one in two women of childbearing age are knowledgeable about obstetric fistula. The study underscores the need to address the urban\u2013rural disparity in healthcare access and information, enhancing media access, and promoting women's participation in pregnancy conferences to enhance knowledge of obstetric fistula.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fgwh.2025.1547599","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T05:47:18Z","timestamp":1756446438000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Knowledge of obstetrical fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Ejere Woreda, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia: a community-based study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Getahun","family":"Tiruye","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daba","family":"Kejela","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anteneh","family":"Dirar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abel Tibebu","family":"Goshu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teklemariam","family":"Gultie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1201","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(06)69476-2","article-title":"Obstetric vesicovaginal fistula as an international public-health problem","volume":"368","author":"Wall","year":"2006","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijgo.2007.06.032","article-title":"Obstetric fistula: guiding principles for clinical management and programme development, a new WHO guideline","volume":"99","author":"De Bernis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Gynaecol Obstet"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(03)15177-X","article-title":"Obstetric fistula: the international response","volume":"363","author":"Donnay","year":"2004","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4471-6711-2_15","article-title":"Obstetric fistula","author":"Iancu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Childbirth Trauma"},{"key":"B5","unstructured":""},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1002\/ijgo.13033","article-title":"Addressing the fistula treatment gap and rising to the 2030 challenge","volume":"148","author":"Slinger","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Gynaecol Obstet"},{"key":"B7","volume-title":"Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2016","year":"2016"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1080\/02673843.2021.2010577","article-title":"Teenage pregnancy and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Mamo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Adolesc Youth"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s43032-023-01383-w","article-title":"Prevalence and associated factors of cultural malpractice during the perinatal period in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"31","author":"Gelaw","year":"2023","journal-title":"Reprod Sci"},{"key":"B10","article-title":"Obstetric fistula (2023)","year":""},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-018-0605-1","article-title":"Consequences of obstetric fistula in sub Sahara African countries, from patients\u2019 perspective: a systematic review of qualitative studies","volume":"18","author":"Bashah","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Womens Health"},{"key":"B12","first-page":"193","article-title":"Obstetric fistula: living with incontinence and shame","volume":"1","author":"Semere","year":"2008","journal-title":"Rev Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-023-02220-7","article-title":"The psycho-social impact of obstetric fistula and available support for women residing in Nigeria: a systematic review","volume":"23","author":"Nduka","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Womens Health"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1002\/msj.20265","article-title":"Obstetric fistula in low and middle income countries","volume":"78","author":"Capes","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mt Sinai J Med"},{"key":"B15","article-title":"Obstetric fistula situation in Ethiopia. Johns Hopkins University-Technical Support for the Ethiopian HIV AIDS Initiative, Hawassa, Ethiopia (2011)","author":"Dememew","year":""},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e053221","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-053221","article-title":"Awareness of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of Ethiopian demographic and health survey data: a cross-sectional study","volume":"11","author":"Aleminew","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70141","DOI":"10.1002\/hsr2.70141","article-title":"Awareness on obstetric fistula and associated factors among women health development army, in the South Gondar zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study","volume":"7","author":"Addimasu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Sci Rep"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-022-02001-8","article-title":"Knowledge of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in northwestern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study","volume":"22","author":"Tsega Dejen","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Womens Health"},{"key":"B19","first-page":"7306108","article-title":"Awareness and its associated factors of obstetrics fistula among antenatal care attendees in Injibara Town Health Institutions, Awi Zone, North West, Ethiopia, 2019","volume-title":"J Pregnancy","author":"Balcha","year":"2020"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-021-01228-2","article-title":"Awareness of obstetric fistula and associated factors among women in reproductive age group attending public hospitals in southwest Ethiopia, 2021","volume":"18","author":"Rundasa","year":"2021","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s41182-022-00443-2","article-title":"Awareness of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa","volume":"50","author":"Budu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Trop Med Health"},{"key":"B22","article-title":"The prevalence and impact of obstetric fistula on women of Kaptembwa, Nakuru Kenya","volume-title":"Int J Appl Sci Technol","author":"Kimani","year":"2014"},{"key":"B23","article-title":"National model. United Nations (2015)","author":"Monaghan","year":""},{"key":"B24","first-page":"178","article-title":"A survey on obstetric fistula awareness in northern Ghana","volume":"4","author":"Saeed","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur J Exp Biol"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.4236\/arsci.2017.53005","article-title":"Awareness of obstetric vesicovaginal fistula among pregnant women in a rural hospital","volume":"5","author":"Ezeonu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Adv Reprod Sci"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e040078","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-040078","article-title":"Factors associated with the awareness of vaginal fistula among women of reproductive age: findings from the 2018 Nigerian demographic health cross-sectional survey","volume":"10","author":"Morhason-Bello","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B27","first-page":"377","article-title":"Perceived causes of obstetric fistulae from rural southern Tanzania","volume":"11","author":"Kazaura","year":"2011","journal-title":"Afr Health Sci"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.35248\/2167-0420.20.9.509","article-title":"Awareness of obstetric fistula and its associated factors among reproductive-age group women in bench Sheko Zone, southwest, Ethiopia. Community based cross-sectional study","volume":"9","author":"Asefa","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Womens Health Care"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-590790\/v1","article-title":"Awareness on risk factor for obstetric fistula and associated factors among reproductive age women in South Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia, 2020. Cross sectional study","volume":"11","author":"Teklay","year":"2021","journal-title":"Res Sq"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e85921","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0085921","article-title":"Knowledge of obstetric fistula prevention amongst young women in urban and rural Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study","volume":"8","author":"Banke-Thomas","year":"2013","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-14107-7","article-title":"Prevalence and factors associated with the awareness of obstetric fistula among women of reproductive age in the Gambia: a multilevel fixed effects analysis","volume":"22","author":"Afaya","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1426578","DOI":"10.3389\/fgwh.2024.1426578","article-title":"Deciphering community-level knowledge of obstetric fistula and determinants: perspectives elucidated by ordinal logistic regression","volume":"5","author":"Limenih","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Glob Women's Health"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0144352","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0144352","article-title":"Do physical proximity and availability of adequate infrastructure at public health facility increase institutional delivery? A three level hierarchical model approach","volume":"10","author":"Patel","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e002020","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2019-002020","article-title":"The influence of distance and quality on utilisation of birthing services at health facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana","volume":"4","author":"Dotse-Gborgbortsi","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Glob Health"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e042095","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-042095","article-title":"Distance, difference in altitude and socioeconomic determinants of utilisation of maternal and child health services in Ethiopia: a geographic and multilevel modelling analysis","volume":"11","author":"Defar","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"580","DOI":"10.1093\/inthealth\/ihab074","article-title":"Association between place of delivery, assistance during delivery and fistula occurrence in Afghanistan","volume":"14","author":"Samad","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int Health"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1151083","DOI":"10.3389\/fgwh.2023.1151083","article-title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of women\u2019s awareness of obstetric fistula and its determinants in Ethiopia","volume":"4","author":"Melis","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Glob Womens Health"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Global Women's Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fgwh.2025.1547599\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T05:47:20Z","timestamp":1756446440000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fgwh.2025.1547599\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"references-count":37,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fgwh.2025.1547599"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fgwh.2025.1547599","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-5059"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-5059","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"article-number":"1547599"}}