Epidemiology and associated factors of abnormal uterine bleeding among reproductive-age women: evidence from Woldia City, Northeast Ethiopia

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common concern among reproductive-age women, significantly affecting productivity, quality of life, and social interactions. In Ethiopia, research on abnormal uterine bleeding is limited, and the factors influencing its occurrence are not well understood. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of, abnormal uterine bleeding, and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Woldia City, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Woldia City from May 3 to June 30, 2023. A total of 1,200 reproductive-age women participated in the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit participants. A pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, which were entered into Epi Data 6.4 and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and binary logistic regression was used to assess associations. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 at 95% CI in multivariate logistic regression were considered significant. A total of 1200 women participated, with a response rate of 97.4%. Of the participants, 36.5% (95% CI: 33.8-39.3%) reported AUB, with heavy menstrual bleeding being the most common pattern. Statistically significant associations were found between AUB and late reproductive age (AOR = 4.11, 95% CI: 2.99-5.63), regular smoking (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.04-3.05), hypertension (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13-4.47), and high-stress levels (AOR = 4.69, 95% CI: 3.57-6.19). This study found a high prevalence of AUB, with heavy menstrual bleeding as the predominant pattern. Advanced age, hypertension, regular smoking, and high-stress levels were significantly associated with AUB. Women should adopt healthier lifestyles, including managing blood pressure, reducing stress, and quitting smoking to help prevent Abnormal uterine bleeding.