SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF OBSTETRIC FISTULA OCCURRENCE AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING FISTULA CAMP AT KITOVU HOSPITAL, UGANDA

AS LASSI; Y ADAMU; YY MIYA

Authors

AS LASSI
aslassi@basug.edu.ng
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Y ADAMU Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
YY MIYA Galaxy School of Health Technology Bauchi, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Despite advancements in medical sciences, African countries are still battling cases of obstetric fistula among which are the vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal fistula. In Uganda, the national prevalence of fistula is two percent among women aged 15–49 years and the prevalence is highest in the western region where one in 25 women were affected. The study aims to identify the determinants of obstetric fistula among women attending the obstetric fistula camp at Kitovu Mission Hospital. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study design with quantitative and qualitative data collection methods using the entire population attending fistula camp. Samples were obtained using a convenient sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS, descriptive, and Cramer’s V at 95% confidence interval. Belief, education level, Place of residence, and age at marriage, and, were actually the social determinants of obstetric fistula among women attending Kitovu mission hospital, with the X2 = 21.168, P – Value 0.047 and Cramer’s V = 0.723, the Majority of respondent said no belief that might stop the them from hospital delivery and they’ve urine only as the severity of their condition, education level has X2 =20.703, P – value = 0.043 & Cramer’s V = 0.570 with majority of them 20 (62.5%) having primary certificate and had only urine incontinency, Place of residence has X2 = 21.335, P – value = 0.002, and Cramer’s V =0.650 in which majority of the respondents 22 (68.8) leaves in rural areas and the severity of their condition Age at marriage has X2 = 18.303, P – value =0.021 and Cramer’s V = 0.931, and majority of them 12 (44.4%) are at the age bracket of 20 – 24 years. Conclusions: Thus women who said no belief that prevent from hospital, those with primary education, those that live in rural areas, and women aged below between 20 -24 years, are more at risk of getting a fistula among all respondents interviewed.