Obstetric fistulae: a review

Abstract

Obstetric fistula is one of the most feared complications of labour, leaving a woman with a life of ostracism and shame due to her complete incontinence. Many women see this as a curse for something they did and many end up trying to take their life. Obstetric fistula patients present with a complicated array of physical and psychological needs which should all be addressed by the medical team caring for her. In the majority of cases, obstetric fistula is curable as long as the doctor is trained in and skilled in the right surgical techniques. However, the most important message is that obstetric fistula is preventable. Ensuring that all women receive proper, affordable and timely medical care in labour will ensure that women will not need to fear such dreadful sequalae of trying to have a baby.

Obstetric Fistula: Epidemiological, Social and Therapeutic Aspects: Prospective Study of 196 Patients Admitted to the ZINDER Mother and Child Health Centre (CSME)

“…78.4 fistulas. The global epidemiology of obstetric fistula is estimated at 0.29/1000 births [5], with 0.3% -1.8% in India [6] and 33,450 new cases per year in sub-Saharan Africa, with great disparity between countries: 23.1/100,000 in Burkina Faso [7], 13,000 cases/year in Nigeria [8], 7.5/year in Senegal [9] and 1.6/1000 in Malawi [10].…”

“…These include the migration of women to other centres which organise fistula care campaign at different times, and often the shame of reporting fistula in their own region [11] [12]. These difficulties were reported by Sanda and Harouna in Niger, Nyassi in the report on the fistula care campaign in West Africa [11] [12] [13] and by Bello in Nigeria and Browning in Sudan, where it has been impossible to describe the incidence and prevalence in the same conditions [5] [8].…”