SynthesisPloS one2024
Proportions and determinants of successful surgical repair of obstetric fistula in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Determinants of Recovery From Obstetric Fistula in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing open · 2026Pooled it
- Healthcare-seeking behavior for obstetrical fistula and its determinant factors in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.AJOG global reports · 2026Review
- Twelve Years of Managing Female Urogenital Fistula in Uganda: Characteristics, Repair Outcomes, and Predictors for Success in a Multicentre Cohort Study.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Socio-medical consequences of living with obstetric fistula: a phenomenological study of the lived experiences of women in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Counseling strategies and challenges for addressing infertility and infertility concerns following female genital fistula repair: perspectives from fistula care providers in Uganda.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Risk factors for failed fistula closure in Addis Ababa at fistula centre, central Ethiopia.Frontiers in global women's health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundObstetric fistula is a serious and debilitating problem resulting from tissue necrosis on the reproductive and urinary and/or lower gastrointestinal tract organs due to prolonged labor. Primary studies of the treatment of obstetric fistulae report significantly variable treatment outcomes following surgical repair. However, no systematic review and meta-analysis has yet estimated the pooled proportion and identified the determinants of successful obstetric fistula surgical repair.
objectiveTo estimate the proportion and identify the determinants of successful surgical repair of obstetric fistulae in low- and middle-income countries.
methodsThe protocol was developed and registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID CRD42022323630). Searches of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus databases, and gray literature sources were performed. All the accessed studies were selected with Covidence, and the quality of the studies was examined. Finally, the data were extracted using Excel and analyzed with R software.
resultsThis review included 79 studies out of 9337 following the screening process. The analysis reveals that 77.85% (95%CI: 75.14%; 80.56%) of surgical repairs in low and middle-income countries are successful. Women who attain primary education and above, are married, and have alive neonatal outcomes are more likely to have successful repair outcomes. In contrast, women with female genital mutilation, primiparity, a large fistula size, a fistula classification of II and above, urethral damage, vaginal scarring, a circumferential defect, multiple fistulae, prior repair and postoperative complications are less likely to have successful repair outcomes.
conclusionThe proportion of successful surgical repairs of obstetric fistula in low and middle-income countries remains suboptimal. Hence, stakeholders and policymakers must design and implement policies promoting women's education. In addition, fistula care providers need to reach and manage obstetric fistula cases early before complications, like vaginal fibrosis, occur.
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