Attitudes and Expectations of Women Undergoing Vaginal Fistula Repair in Niger

Abstract

In Brief Objectives: To describe the perioperative attitudes and expectations of women undergoing vaginal fistula repair. Methods: A prospective questionnaire study at the National Hospital of Niamey, Niger. Pre- and postoperative questionnaires were administered and responses documented. Patient characteristics were obtained from hospital charts. Results: Twenty-eight women completed questionnaires. Preoperatively, 93% were happy about the potential for “health,” and 50% that a “solution” existed for their problem. Regarding the future, most wanted health and/or their problem fixed; 50% wanted to return to husbands and/or home, and 21% desired children. Postoperatively, 100% were happy they had surgery, although 43% wished they had more procedural information. Conclusions: The women's main goal was restoration of health. All were happy they had surgery immediately postoperatively, although many desired more procedural information. Beginning a discourse to understand patient attitudes and expectations increases opportunities to provide culturally sensitive care and address women's concerns during counseling and education. In this prospective questionnaire study, restoration of health was the main goal for a group of women undergoing fistula repair in Niger.