The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia

Obstetric fistula is a severe maternal morbidity which can have devastating consequences for a woman’s life and is generally associated with poor obstetric services leading to prolonged obstructed labour. The predisposing factors and consequences of obstetric fistula differ from country to country a...

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Main Authors: Adam A. Mohamed, Abiodun O. Ilesanmi, M. David Dairo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Obstetrics and Gynecology International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5250843
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author Adam A. Mohamed
Abiodun O. Ilesanmi
M. David Dairo
author_facet Adam A. Mohamed
Abiodun O. Ilesanmi
M. David Dairo
author_sort Adam A. Mohamed
collection DOAJ
description Obstetric fistula is a severe maternal morbidity which can have devastating consequences for a woman’s life and is generally associated with poor obstetric services leading to prolonged obstructed labour. The predisposing factors and consequences of obstetric fistula differ from country to country and from community to community. The World Health Organization estimated that more than 2 million women in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab region, Latin America, and the Caribbean are living with the fistula, and some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop annually with 30,000–90,000 new cases developing each year in Africa alone. This study aimed at describing and exploring the experiences of women living with obstetric fistulas following corrective surgery in Benadir and Mudug regions, Somalia. Women living with obstetric fistula who had surgical repairs at Daynile and GMC fistula centers and key informants were identified purposively. Twenty-one individual in-depth interviews among women with obstetric fistula and eight key informant interviews were conducted. Thematic analyses were used. Codes were identified, and those codes with similar connections were organized together as to form themes. Detailed reading and rereading of the transcribed interviews were employed in order to achieve and identify themes and categories. Themes, categories, and subcategories illustrating the experiences of women living with obstetric fistula emerged from the thematic analysis of individual in-depth and key informant interviews. These were challenges of living with OBF which include “wounds around genitalia, bad odour, incontinences of urine and feces, stigma, isolation, divorce, powerlessness, dependency, financial constraints, and loss of healthy years” and coping mechanisms which include “withdrawal from the community and improved personal hygiene.” Women with obstetric fistula experience serious health and social consequences which prevents them fulfill social, family, and personal responsibilities. We recommend expansion of BEmONC services to underserved areas, capacity building for local OBF surgeons, and improved media campaign and birth preparedness at community levels.
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spelling doaj-art-e12c9c301b7b4274bfe936955a83a18e2025-02-03T06:10:52ZengWileyObstetrics and Gynecology International1687-95891687-95972018-01-01201810.1155/2018/52508435250843The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, SomaliaAdam A. Mohamed0Abiodun O. Ilesanmi1M. David Dairo2Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaDepartment of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaObstetric fistula is a severe maternal morbidity which can have devastating consequences for a woman’s life and is generally associated with poor obstetric services leading to prolonged obstructed labour. The predisposing factors and consequences of obstetric fistula differ from country to country and from community to community. The World Health Organization estimated that more than 2 million women in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab region, Latin America, and the Caribbean are living with the fistula, and some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop annually with 30,000–90,000 new cases developing each year in Africa alone. This study aimed at describing and exploring the experiences of women living with obstetric fistulas following corrective surgery in Benadir and Mudug regions, Somalia. Women living with obstetric fistula who had surgical repairs at Daynile and GMC fistula centers and key informants were identified purposively. Twenty-one individual in-depth interviews among women with obstetric fistula and eight key informant interviews were conducted. Thematic analyses were used. Codes were identified, and those codes with similar connections were organized together as to form themes. Detailed reading and rereading of the transcribed interviews were employed in order to achieve and identify themes and categories. Themes, categories, and subcategories illustrating the experiences of women living with obstetric fistula emerged from the thematic analysis of individual in-depth and key informant interviews. These were challenges of living with OBF which include “wounds around genitalia, bad odour, incontinences of urine and feces, stigma, isolation, divorce, powerlessness, dependency, financial constraints, and loss of healthy years” and coping mechanisms which include “withdrawal from the community and improved personal hygiene.” Women with obstetric fistula experience serious health and social consequences which prevents them fulfill social, family, and personal responsibilities. We recommend expansion of BEmONC services to underserved areas, capacity building for local OBF surgeons, and improved media campaign and birth preparedness at community levels.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5250843
spellingShingle Adam A. Mohamed
Abiodun O. Ilesanmi
M. David Dairo
The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
Obstetrics and Gynecology International
title The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
title_full The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
title_fullStr The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
title_full_unstemmed The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
title_short The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia
title_sort experience of women with obstetric fistula following corrective surgery a qualitative study in benadir and mudug regions somalia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5250843
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