Abstract
BackgroundObstetric fistula is a worldwide problem that is devastating for women in developing countries. The cardinal cause of obstetric fistula is prolonged obstructed labour and delay in seeking emergency obstetric care. Awareness about obstetric fistula is still low in developing countries. The objective was to assess the awareness about risk factors of obstetric fistulae in rural communities of Nabitovu village, Iganga district, Eastern Uganda.MethodsA qualitative study using focus group discussion for males and females aged 18-49 years, to explore and gain deeper understanding of their awareness of existence, causes, clinical presentation and preventive measures for obstetric fistula. Data was analyzed by thematic analysis.ResultsThe majority of the women and a few men were aware about obstetric fistula, though many had misconceptions regarding its causes, clinical presentation and prevention. Some wrongly attributed fistula to misuse of family planning, having sex during the menstruation period, curses by relatives, sexually transmitted infections, rape and gender-based violence. However, others attributed the fistula to delays to access medical care, induced abortions, conception at an early age, utilization of traditional birth attendants at delivery, and some complications that could occur during surgical operations for difficult deliveries.ConclusionMost of the community members interviewed were aware of the risk factors of obstetric fistula. Some respondents, predominantly men, had misconceptions/myths about risk factors of obstetric fistula as being caused by having sex during menstrual periods, poor usage of family planning, being a curse.
Highlights
Obstetric fistula is a worldwide problem that is devastating for women in developing countries
The objective of the study was to assess the level of awareness of obstetric fistula among women and men of reproductive age (18–49 years) in Nabitovu Village, Iganga district
Community’s awareness about presentation of obstetric fistula While most male participants reported that they had never heard of the condition of obstetric fistula
Summary
Obstetric fistula is a worldwide problem that is devastating for women in developing countries. Most obstetric fistula follow obstructed labor, one of major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Such fistulas are usually associated with cephalopelvic disproportion, whereby the baby’s head presents with diameters whose dimensions are larger than the proportions of the pelvic canal through which it passes. This abnormality is associated with delays in seeking or receiving appropriate emergency obstetric care [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Many affected women have other complications and are subjected to social discrimination and abandonment [11,22]
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