Dataset Information

Reasons for delay in seeking treatment among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obstetric fistula is among the serious and distressing maternal morbidities in Tanzania. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth-related injury caused by prolonged and obstructed labor which has a devastating impact on affected women and their families. The aim of this study was to explore reasons why women with obstetric fistula admitted to the Comprehensive Community- Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) hospital delayed seeking fistula treatment.

Methods

This exploratory study incorporated qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were used to collect data from 18 women with obstetric fistula admitted to CCBRT hospital. The interviews were conducted in Kiswahili and lasted for 40-45?min. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to extract reasons for the delay in seeking treatment for obstetric fistula.

Results

The study sample (n?=?18) ranged in age from 20 to 57 (??=?37; SD?=?11.67), married (n?=?14), unemployed (n?=?15), and very low level education (n?=?15) with primary education. Delay in seeking treatment for obstetric fistula was related to the following themes: inadequate knowledge about the causes and treatment of obstetric fistula, distance and transport cost to a health facility, stigma, community isolation, social isolation and use of traditional and cultural.

Conclusion

The Tanzanian Ministry of Health in collaboration with private institutions should strengthen education programmes on the nature and causes of obstetric fistula, and increase the availability of treatment to decrease the effect of this condition for women in Tanzania.

SUBMITTER: Lyimo MA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6617583 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Reasons for delay in seeking treatment among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Lyimo Mary A MA Mosha Idda H IH

BMC women's health 20190710 1

<h4>Background</h4>Obstetric fistula is among the serious and distressing maternal morbidities in Tanzania. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth-related injury caused by prolonged and obstructed labor which has a devastating impact on affected women and their families. The aim of this study was to explore reasons why women with obstetric fistula admitted to the Comprehensive Community- Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) hospital delayed seeking fistula treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>This explorato ...[more]

PMID: 31291928

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Despite the many maternal healthcare policy programmes in Ghana such as free the antenatal care (ANC) and the fee-exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others, the country has yet to make substantial improvements in addressing low skilled care utilisation in pregnancy and delivery. From previous studies, maternal mortality has been linked to women's healthcare decision-making power at the household level in many low and middle-income countries. Thus, a pregnant women's ability to choose a healthcare provider, act on her preferences, and to be sufficiently financially empowered to take the lead in deciding on reproductive and pregnancy care has significant effects on service utilisation outcomes. Therefore, we explored rural community-level barriers to seeking care related to obstetric complications and delivery from the perspectives of mothers, youth, opinion leaders and healthcare providers in Nadowli-Kaleo and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa districts in the Upper West Region of Ghana. METHODS:This exploratory qualitative study was based on the narratives of women, health providers and community stakeholders regarding the expectant women's autonomy to decide and utilise maternal care. To achieve maximal diversity of responses, purposive sampling procedures were followed in selecting 16 health professionals, three traditional birth attendants and 240 community members (opinion leaders, youth and non-pregnant women) who participated in individual depth interviews and focus group discussions. RESULTS:Women's lack of autonomy to seek care without prior permission, perceived quality care of traditional birth attendants, stigmatisation of unplanned pregnancies and cultural beliefs associated with late disclosure of childbirth labour all delayed mothers timely use of skilled care in the study communities. These barriers compounded problems arising from communities that are geographically isolated from hospital care. CONCLUSIONS:Decisions about seeking maternal care were usually made by the expectant woman's husband and family without providing adequate support to pregnant women during the latter stages of pregnancy and delivery. We conclude that this is primarily a cultural issue. The study recommends a change in the approach to community-level health education campaigns for maximum impacts through the increased involvement of men and families in health service delivery and utilisation.

Project description:BackgroundObstetric fistula is a physically and socially disabling obstetric complication that affects about 3,000 women in Tanzania every year. The fistula, an opening that forms between the vagina and the bladder and/or the rectum, is most frequently caused by unattended prolonged labour, often associated with delays in seeking and receiving appropriate and adequate birth care. Using the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of care (AAAQ) concept and the three delays model, this article provides empirical knowledge on birth care experiences of women who developed fistula after prolonged labour.MethodsWe used a mixed methods approach to explore the birthing experiences of women affected by fistula and the barriers to access adequate care during labour and delivery. Sixteen women were interviewed for the qualitative study and 151 women were included in the quantitative survey. All women were interviewed at the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania in Dar es Salaam and Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza.ResultsWomen experienced delays both before and after arriving at a health facility. Decisions on where to seek care were most often taken by husbands and mothers-in-law (60%). Access to health facilities providing emergency obstetric care was inadequate and transport was a major obstacle. About 20% reported that they had walked or were carried to the health facility. More than 50% had reported to a health facility after two or more days of labour at home. After arrival at a health facility women experienced lack of supportive care, neglect, poor assessment of labour and lack of supervision. Their birth accounts suggest unskilled birth care and poor referral routines.ConclusionsThis study reveals major gaps in access to and provision of emergency obstetric care. It illustrates how poor quality of care at health facilities contributes to delays that lead to severe birth injuries, highlighting the need to ensure women's rights to accessible, acceptable and adequate quality services during labour and delivery.

Dataset Information

Reasons for delay in seeking treatment among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Reasons for delay in seeking treatment among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets