Women's health in Ethiopia

[1] The sex ratio between male and female is almost equal; women in the reproductive age group constitute 23.4% of the population.

[citation needed] In Ethiopia, women of reproductive age constitute about a quarter of the entire population of 90 million.

Deliveries attended by a skilled health care provider were shown to improve both maternal and neonatal survival.

In Ethiopian most of the deliveries occur at home and unattended by skilled provider[citation needed] Obstetric fistulas remains a leading health concern for women throughout Ethiopia.The ending of obstetric fistulas has been named as a Sustainable development need for Ethiopia and a plan is in place with an achievement goal of 2030.

Amongst other risk factors including no skilled birth attendants, poor health-seeking behavior, poor referral system and transportation network, age and physical maturity, iatrogenic surgical damage, Educational status, sexual violence , poverty, and having child births too close together.

Obstetric fistulas if left untreated risk life long morbidity as well as possible psychological, social, and economic consequences.

A study done in Kofele, (Oromia region, Arsi, Ethiopia) in 2004 showed the lifetime and the 12 months prevalence of physical violence among married women was 64% and 55%, respectively.