Reproductive Risk Factors in Uterovaginal Prolapse: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Uterovaginal prolapse (UVP) is a major women’s health concern throughout the world and contributes a major bulk of reproductive health morbidity in Nepal. The cause of this disorder is likely to be multifactorial. The aim of this study was to analyze the reproductive risk factors associated with UVP.

Methods: This was a hospital-based case control study, carried out in the Gynaecology Department of TUTH over one year from 1 st Baisakh 2068 to 30 th Chaitra 2068 (13th April 2011 to 12th April 2012). Cases comprised of 116 women with UVP, second degree or more and controls were women without prolapse of the same age group (± 5 years) admitted subsequently after the cases. The variables studied were; age at first childbirth, number of vaginal births, birth spacing and rest during puerperal period. P value and Odds Ratio (OR) for each risk factor were calculated. Multivariate analysis was done for those risk factors found to be significant from the univariate analysis.

Results: Age at first childbirth, number of vaginal births and rest during puerperium were found to be significant risk factors from univariate analysis. Only two risk factors i.e. age at first childbirth<20years; OR 2.24(95% CI 1.18-4.25) and rest during puerperium<15 days; OR 3.87(95% CI 1.9-7.93), were found to be significant by the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Preventing early marriage and childbirth at a young age along with imparting awareness about the importance of adequate rest during the puerperium could go a long way in reducing morbidity due to prolapse.