Epidemiology of pelvic organ prolapse in rural Gambia, West Africa

Pelvic organ prolapse has a high prevalence in this first community-based study of prolapse in West Africa. Many of those affected did not complain about their problem, thus increasing the large, silent burden of reproductive morbidity in this population. Parity was confirmed to be the strongest risk factor followed by age and anaemia. Ethnic origin was a previously unknown risk factor suggesting possible genetic factors in the pathogenesis of prolapse.