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North-central Nigerian women's experiences of obstetric fistula risk factors and their perceived treatment services : An interpretive description
Bulndi, Lydia Babatunde Bayes, Sara Adama, Esther Ireson, Deborah
Bulndi, Lydia Babatunde
Bayes, Sara
Adama, Esther
Ireson, Deborah
Abstract
Background
An obstetric fistula also known as vesico vaginal fistula (VVF), or recto-vaginal fistula (RVF) is an abnormal opening between the urogenital tract and intestinal tract caused by prolonged obstructed labour; when the head of the baby presses on the soft tissues in the pelvis leading to loss of blood flow to the women’s bladder, vagina, and rectum. This can cause necrosis of the soft tissues resulting in debilitating fistula formations.
Aim
This study aimed to uncover North-central Nigerian women’s experiences of obstetric fistula and their perceived treatment services.
Design
Qualitative, interpretive descriptive methodology underpinned by symbolic interactionism involving face-to-face semi-structured interviews was used to explore North-central Nigerian women’s experiences of obstetric fistula and their perceived treatment services.
Sample
A purposive sample of 15 women who had experienced obstetric fistula at a repair Centre in North-central Nigeria were eligible.
Results
Four themes emerged from North-central Nigerian women’s experiences of obstetric fistula and their perceived treatment services i) I was left alone in the room ii) Waiting for the one vehicle in the village iii) I never knew about labour until that very day iv) and We kept following the native doctors and sorcerers.
Conclusion
The findings from this study highlighted the depth of women’s experiences from the devastating complication of childbirth injury in North-central Nigeria. Analysis of insights from women’s voices directly affected by obstetric fistula demonstrated that in their views and experiences the themes identified were majorly responsible for their fistula status. Thus women need to raise their collective voices to resist oppressive harmful traditions and demand empowerment opportunities that will improve their social status. Government should improve primary healthcare facilities, train more midwives and subsidise maternal care for antenatal education and birth services spending for childbirth women may result in improved childbirth experiences for women in rural and urban communities.
Tweetable Abstract
Reproductive women call for increased accessibility to healthcare services and the provision of more midwives to mitigate obstetric fistula in North-central Nigerian communities.
Keywords
interpretive description, North-central Nigeria, obstetric fistula, risk factors, treatment services, women’s experiences
Date
2023
Type
Journal article
Journal
Women and Birth
Book
Volume
36
Issue
5
Page Range
454-459
Article Number
ACU Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open
Notes
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).