Post - effects of obstetric fistula in Uganda; a case study of fistula survivors in KITOVU mission hospital (MASAKA), Uganda.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Obstetrical fistula (OF) is a public health challenge that is among the previously neglected components of maternal health in the developing world. The condition, which in the recent past has increasingly drawn more attention from the public, has a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of both women and girls worldwide. The most common cause of obstetric fistula in developing countries is prolonged obstructed labor affecting approximately 2 million women and girls across Africa and Asia. The objective of this study was to examine the post-effects of fistula and reintegration strategies of fistula survivors in Uganda.Methods
A descriptive case study design was used to collect data from women aged 15-49 years who had experienced OF and been successfully treated/repaired. Data collection was aided by in-depth interview guides designed for collecting qualitative data which was analyzed using thematic and content analysis.Results
The study results showed that 45.6% were aged 18-24 years, 43% had only primary level education and 55.7% of the women were married. Fistula survivors continue to suffer from shame, rejection, isolation and stigma, trauma and disgrace among other effects even after successful repair/surgery. Some of the reintegration strategies for fistula survivors include; seeking for successful repair, remarriage and relocation from their parent communities to new environments.Conclusion
In addition to capacity building, changing attitudes and strengthening the health system, a comprehensive and holistic fistula care approach is required to facilitate the reintegration process and restoration of women dignity.
SUBMITTER: Bomboka JB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6555098 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC8764794 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC11238981 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionIn Uganda, 2% of women die from maternal causes with a mortality rate of 336 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the World Health Organization Uganda is one of the top three contributors to maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda has parallel weak ambulance systems, government, and non-government-owned, that transport obstetric emergencies to higher-level facilities. These two operations lack standards of medical care and inter-facility transfer (IFT) protocols to direct care. Limited studies exist which assess the state of Emergency Care Services in Uganda and none has been performed to assess the ambulance referral services utilized to address obstetric emergencies.ObjectiveThe present study was performed to describe the ambulance transfer processes of obstetric emergencies by analyzing cases arriving at Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH) from outlying health facilities.MethodsThe study was based at KNRH in Kampala, Uganda. It was a descriptive and analytic cross-sectional study. Trained research assistants enrolled participating patients who met the inclusion criteria consecutively on arrival by ambulance at the hospital. Utilizing a questionnaire, quantitative data was collected from the ambulance driver, the sending facility referral form, and the receiving hospital's ambulance log book for each case. The sample size was 215.ResultsThe median age was 27 years and the majority of patients were referred because of hypertensive disorders (34.9%), obstructed labor (26.5%) and hemorrhage (20.9%). The median total response time for transfer of obstetric emergencies was 50 min, from ambulance activation until the mother was received at KNRH. Differences were identified between government and non-government-owned ambulances in regards to the method of activation, medical escort staffing, number of vital signs recorded, and ambulance onboard medical care. Ambulances parked at the facility took the shortest transfer time and EMT-supported ambulances had the greatest number of vital signs taken.ConclusionsRecommendations are to develop an integrated ambulance system for both government and non-government ambulances with standards especially in regards to standardized scripted call-center calls analysis, dispatch activation time, response-to-patient time, and trained ambulance professional staffing and medical care whenever in patient transport mode.
| S-EPMC10359711 | biostudies-literature