Living with Obstetric Fistula: Perceived Causes, Challenges and Coping Strategies among Women Attending the Fistula Clinic at Mulago Hospital, Uganda
Joan Kabayambi, Justus Kafunjo Barageine, Joseph K. B. Matovu, Jolly Beyeza, Elizabeth Ekirapa, Rhoda K. Wanyenze
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health · pp. 352–361 · Published 24 Jan 2014
10.9734/IJTDH/2014/7505Abstract
Aims: To determine perceived causes, challenges and coping mechanisms of women living with obstetric fistula (OF) in Uganda. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Mulago National Referral Hospital Uganda – January to July 2009. Methodology: Thirty women with OF were interviewed on challenges, coping mechanisms and perceived causes of OF using semi-structured questionnaires. Two focus group discussions were held with 10 caretakers of the women with OF and key informant interviews with 10 health care providers. Results: Majority of the women (21; 70%) were young (<25 years) had primary education (20; 67%) and had lived with OF for 2-9 years (20; 67%). The main perceived causes of OF were injury by surgeon (8; 27%), delivery of a big baby (7; 23%) and prolonged labor (4; 13%). Nearly all women with OF (27; 90%) reported that OF had detrimentally affected their health and well being; 26 women (87%) lost their children at birth or within the neonatal period. Families were affected by high cost of treatment (13; 43%); provision of basic items (10; 32%), and suffered stress (17; 55%). Women coped with OF by hiding from the general public (27; 90%), maintaining strict hygiene (25; 83%), ignoring people’s comments (23; 75%) or resorting to prayer (18; 57%). Conclusion: Women with OF experienced physical, emotional and socio-economic challenges and coped with OF through non-effective social measures. There is need to strengthen strategies to prevent OF and enhance OF rehabilitation services for affected women and their families.
References (16)
- 1 Obstetric vesicovaginal fistula as an international public-health problem [DOI]
- 2 Dead Mothers and Injured Wives: The Social Context of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality among the Hausa of Northern Nigeria [DOI]
- 3 Social and economic consequences of obstetric fistula: Life changed forever? [DOI]
- 4 "I am nothing": experiences of loss among women suffering from severe birth injuries in Tanzania [DOI]
- 5 The psychosocial impact of vesico-vaginal fistula in Niger [DOI]
- 6 The immediate management of fresh obstetric fistulas [DOI]
- 7 Obstetric fistula and stigma [DOI]
- 8 Systematic review of the magnitude and case fatality ratio for severe maternal morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa between 1995 and 2010 [DOI]
- 9 Childbirth experiences of women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania and Uganda and their implications for fistula program development [DOI]
- 10 Obstetric Fistula in Developing Countries:A Review Article [DOI]
- 11 "Hoping for a Normal Life Again": Reintegration After Fistula Repair in Rural Tanzania [DOI]
- 12 The challenges of improving emergency obstetric care in two rural districts in Mali [DOI]
- 13 The obstetric fistula: A major public health problem still unsolved [DOI]
- 14 Vesicovaginal fistula: Do the patients know the cause? [DOI]
- 15 Referral practices and perceived barriers to timely obstetric care among Ugandan traditional birth attendants (TBA).
- 16 Experiences with obstetric fistula in rural Uganda.
Cited by 57
Patience Akayila Asupulie, Samuel Adjorlolo, Gideon Puplampu · PLOS Mental Health · 2025
Nessa Ryan, Gabriel Y. K. Ganyaglo, Joonhee Park · BMC Women's Health · 2025
Wagaye Fentahun Chanie, Aster Berhe, Ambaye Dejen Tilahun · Scientific Reports · 2025
Agha Ali Agha, Chinyere Edith Onalu, Chinwe Ulaebuchukwu Nnama-Okechukwu · Social Work in Public Health · 2024
Alison El Ayadi, Hadija Nalubwama, Justus Barageine · Reproductive Health · 2017
Alison M. El Ayadi, Hadija Nalubwama, Justus K. Barageine · Health Care for Women International · 2020
Hillary Wildt, Jerry Umanos, Nargis Karim Khanzada · International Perspectives in Psychology · 2017
Ali Agha, Samuel Ebimgbo, Jecinta Ene · Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work · 2024
Pooja Sripad, Elly Arnoff, Charlotte Warren · BMC Women's Health · 2021
George Opong, Everd Bikaitwoha Maniple, Caroline Noel Agabiirwe · BMC Women's Health · 2024
Showing 20 of 57 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Prevalence and Genotypic Characterization of Extended- Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Produced by Gram Negative Bacilli at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rural South Western Uganda — shares topic coverage
- Investigating the Opportunities for Environmentally Benign Options in the Refrigeration Industry of Uganda — shares topic coverage
- Role of Prevalent Weeds and Cultivated Crops in the Epidemiology of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Major Maize Growing Agroecological Zones of Uganda — shares topic coverage
- Compliance and Implementation of Municipal Solid Waste Management Laws and Regulations in Mukono District, Uganda — shares topic coverage
- Adoption Theories for Internet Banking in Uganda — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
84
Page views
0
PDF downloads
23
Outbound clicks
57
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.