Magnitude of pelvic floor dysfunctions among women, western Ethiopia; 2022: Community based study

Abstract

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction is a condition that primarily affects women. It is widespread and affects the quality of life of at least one-third of adult women and is a growing part of women's health care. Recognizing and supporting these needs is a major public health issue with a strong psychosocial and economic base. Objectives: - To assess symptomatic pelvic floor dysfunction and associated factors among women in the, western Ethiopia, 2022. Methods and materials: A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed, and participants were selected by using a systematic random sampling technique. We used EPI data version 3.1 software for data entry and cleaning and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 for analysis. The 95% confidence interval was predicted, and the factor with a p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant multivariate logistic regression analysis. Result: - Over the magnitude of symptomatic pelvic floor dysfunction was 37.7% [(95% CI (31.7-42.5)]. Overactive bladder is the most commonly reported form of pelvic floor dysfunction, in which 135 of all participants reported this symptom. Pelvic organ prolapse was, accounting for 92 (30.4%), and four factors significantly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction were identified. In this study, age ≥ 55 years [(AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: (1.52-6.42)], history of weight lifting greater than 10 kg [(AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: (1.86-5.72) greater than 5 vaginal deliveries [(AOR = 4.03; 95% CI: (2.20-8.27)], respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic PFD was higher than the other studies done in Ethiopia. Heavy weight lifting, low socio-economic status, repetitive vaginal deliveries, chronic cough, and menopause were factors significantly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. Screening and treating pelvic floor dysfunction should receive attention in collaboration with regional and zonal health bureaus.