Associated factors for obstetric fistula among young women and its possible effects on their mental well-being

Abstract

Context: Obstetric fistula is the most frequently found complication in the obstetric care facility in Bangladesh. In addition to physical illness, this life-long complication is also associated with the declined mental status of the sufferer. Aims: The aim of the study was to find the associated factors in the occurrence of obstetric fistula and their effect on the mental health status of women of the reproductive age group. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A total of 108 women aged between 15 and 35 years were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire to explore their sociodemographic, obstetric, and mental status domain. Statistical Analysis Used: The frequencies of the different variables were analyzed using SPSS 20 software, and the Chi-square test was done to observe the associations. Results: The average age of the participants was 23 years. Over 40% of women had their first delivery between the ages of 16–18 years and the same percentage of them had never taken antenatal checkup during their pregnancy. Obstetric fistula was found in nearly 45% of the women after their first delivery. Over two-thirds of the women were found to have a severe depression after the incident. Despite being common in the younger age group, patients older than 25 years were more prone to the severity of depression. Conclusions: The present study strongly supports the association of having obstetric fistula with reduce mental health ranging from having moderate-to-extreme depression.