Determinants of pelvic organ prolapse in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a significant cause of morbidity both in developed and developing countries. The burden of POP was much higher in lower-income countries like Ethiopia. However, the exact prevalence of POP and determinant factors are unknown in Ethiopia. The main aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the pooled prevalence of POP and determinant factors associated with its occurrence in Ethiopia. Electronic database searches were conducted through Google scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library. Essential data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel format and analyzed using STATA Version 14.0. Heterogeneity was checked using the heterogeneity I2 test and p-values at (I2 = 98.9%, p < 0.001). Duval and Tweedie’s Trim and Fill analysis were employed for the possible existence of significant publication bias (p < 0.002, Egger’s, Begg’s, p < 0.015). The pooled prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse in Ethiopia was 24.02% (95% CI: 13.52, 34.51). Age ≥ 40 years (AOR: 9.08: 95% CI: 6.89, 11.97), parity ≥ 4 (AOR: 5.40: 95% CI: 1.96, 14.88), home delivery (AOR: 10.84: 95% CI: 5.27, 22.28), and rural residence (AOR: 8.00: 95% CI: 5.28, 12.11) were determinant factors. The pooled prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse was high in Ethiopia. Ages of mothers, parity, residence, and place of delivery for the last pregnancy were found to be determinants of pelvic organ prolapse. Attention should be given to those factors to curve the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse and possible complications.