Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40200276›Full record

SynthesisBMC women's health2025

A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary incontinence following successful obstetric fistula repair: findings from five countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gedion Asnake Azeze, Kirubel Eshetu Haile, Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu, Sintayehu Solomon Kena, Tewodros Getachew Tsegaye, Amanuel Yosef Gebrekidan, Yitateku Alelgn, Gizachew Ambaw Kassie, Yordanos Sisay Asgedom

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC women's health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Gedion Asnake AzezeDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa city, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
Kirubel Eshetu HaileSchool of Nursing, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P.O.Box: 138, Wolaita Sodo town, Southern Region, Ethiopia. kiruesha2@gmail.com.
Natnael Atnafu GebeyehuSchool of Midwifery, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia.
Sintayehu Solomon KenaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa city, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
Tewodros Getachew TsegayeDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa city, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
Amanuel Yosef GebrekidanSchool of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia.
Yitateku AlelgnDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa city, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
Gizachew Ambaw KassieSchool of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia.
Yordanos Sisay AsgedomSchool of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObstetric vesico-vaginal fistula is a known complication that can occur following damage to the bladder wall during prolonged obstructed labor and operative delivery. Urinary incontinence following the repair of obstetric fistula remains a significant health problem and can greatly damage a women's ability to function confidently. There are approximately two million women suffering from urinary incontinence following obstetric fistula repair, most of whom are primarily in Africa.

objectiveWe aimed to systematically review and conduct meta-analysis on the magnitude of urinary incontinence among women following successful obstetric fistula repair in sub-Saharan African countries.

methodsWe thoroughly searched online database including Medline, Scopus, Science Direct, Excerpta Medica Database, African Journals Online and Google Scholar for eligible articles from their inception to November 10, 2024. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 checklist. To generate pooled prevalence of urinary incontinence, we used random-effects model. The presence of publication bias was determined using a funnel plot and Egger's regression test.

resultsOut of 1044 articles found following our initial search and after titles and abstracts review, we considered 277 full text articles for inclusion. Lastly, a total of 12 articles from five sub-Saharan African countries comprising 6,104 participants met the inclusion criteria for quantitative meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of urinary incontinence following obstetric fistula repair was 16.32% (95%CI: 11.80, 20.84; I2 = 96.5%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Overall, our findings show post-fistula repair incontinence remains an important clinical problem. Therefore, we believe that policy planners and researchers of sub-Saharan African nations may use the findings of the current study for evidence based care planning and patient counseling strategy. REGISTRATION: Registered in PROSPERO under protocol number CRD42023416541.

Indexed as

Obstetric Labor ComplicationsPostoperative ComplicationsUrinary IncontinenceVesicovaginal FistulaAfrica South of the SaharaFemaleHumansPregnancyPrevalenceObstetric fistula repairsub-Saharan AfricaUrinary incontinence, obstetric fistulaVesico-vaginal fistula

Identifiers

PMID40200276
PMCPMC11977948

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.