Determinants of Pelvic Organ Prolapse among Patients Attending At Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse is an anatomic support defect of the pelvic viscera, and may result from a series of long term failure of the supporting and suspension mechanisms of the uterus and the vaginal wall. Objective: The aim of this study intended to assess determinant factors 8of pelvic organ prolapse among patients attending at hospitals in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: This facility-based unmatched case-control study included 416 (104 cases and 312 controls with a case to control ratio of 1:3) participants selected by using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and the collected data was entered in to Epi data version 3.1 which was then exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. The association between variables was analyzed with bivariate and multi variable logistic regression. A statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05, with 95% confidence interval. Results: A total number of 401 (104 cases and 297 controls) study participants participated in the present study yielding a response rate of 96.4% (95.2% for controls and 100 % for cases). After adjusting for the possible confounders, Age > 55 years [AOR=13.85, 95% CI (1.27- 26.26)], educational status, no formal education [AOR=1.75, 95% CI (1.58-4.90)], number of delivery > 4 [AOR=5.76, 95% CI (3.88 -9.47)], place of delivery [AOR=1.94, 95% CI (1.03-4.86)], vaginal tear [AOR=2.07, 95% CI (1.33-7.74)], family planning ever use [AOR=0.41, 95% CI (0.27- 0.93)], type of usual work [AOR=2.66, 95% CI (1.42- 8.43)] and history of chronic cough [AOR=11.99, 95% CI (1.21- 21.81)] were found to be significant predictors for pelvic organ prolapse among patients attending at hospitals of Southern Ethiopia. Conclusion: Age, educational status of the respondent, number of delivery, place of delivery, vaginal tear, and type of usual work, family planning ever use and history of chronic cough were found to be significant predicators for pelvic organ prolapse. The regional and zonal health bureau could train health extension workers to encourage women to use family planning and institutional deliveries.