Recovery Time and Its Predictors among Women Admitted with Obstetric Fistula in Jimma University Medical Center Southwest, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Obstetric fistula is one of the most shocking medical disabilities that women face as a result of problems caused by a lack of surgical intervention. Methods: From January 2011 to February 2017, a retrospective analysis was undertaken on obstetric fistula participants who received undergone surgical repair at the Jimma University Medical Center. Results: 81.4% of fistula patients were reported to have recovered. The results of lognormal inverse-Gaussian frailty model revealed that weight [≥]50kg ([FE]= 0.86, 95% CI: 0.747, 0.99), divorced ([FE]=1.2, 95% CI: 1.028, 1.413), urban residence ([FE]= 1.56, 95% CI: 01.046, 2.317), urine incontinence >3 months ([FE]=1.2, 95% CI: 1.056, 1.371), no antenatal care ([FE]=1.189, 95% CI: 1.023, 1.382), duration of labor <2days ([FE]= 0.86, 95% CI: 0.758, 0.986), health center delivery ([FE]= 0.76, 95% CI: 0.576, 0.989), vaginal delivery ([FE]= 1.5, 95% CI: 1.125, 1.996), and partially damaged urethra ([FE]=1.59, 95% CI: 1.168, 2.166) and recto-vaginal fistula([FE]= 0.735, 95%CI: 0.6045, 0.894) were associated with the recovery time. Conclusion: Patients with a weight < 50 kg, delivery at a health center, labor lasting <2 days, urinary incontinence lasting <3 months, antenatal care follow-up, cesarean section delivery, urethra status not damaged, and recto-vaginal fistula had a faster recovery period.