LEVELS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA PATIENTS IN A STATE HOSPITAL, NORTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Vesico-vaginal stula (VVF) is the commonest urogenital stula in Sub-Saharan Africa. The psychological consequences of the condition though neglected may be more devastating than the physical injuries. The study aims to assess the levels and associated factors of depression among VVF patients in State Hospital in Northwest Nigeria. Adescriptive survey research design was utilized and data was collected among sixty women (60) with vesico-vaginal stula selected using purposive sampling technique using an interviewer administered questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0 and ndings were presented in frequency distribution tables. Findings from the study shows that more than half (60%) of the respondents were between 15-24years old, four-fth (80%) of the respondents had no formal (Quranic) education and Three-fourth (71.7%) of the respondents were married. Majority of the respondents (61.7%) had moderate depression and the main factors associated with depression were lack of employment (96%), nancial problems (95%), lack of family support (95%), and stigma from the society (91.7%). Their main coping strategies adopted were prayers and emotional support. The study concluded that majority of women with VVF are faced with moderate depression and these are linked to the factors associated with depression. The nurses, family, hospital management and the government should assist in providing psychological support through various services to enhance and also improve mental health and quality of life of women suffering from Vesico-Vaginal Fistula.