Medical and social problems of patients in an urban Vesico-Vaginal fistula centre in Kano state

Abstract

Aim: Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) is still a public health problem in developing countries. This study aims to assess the current medical and social problems of VVF patients in MMSH and also determine the factors associated with developing such fistulae against the backdrop of the availability of an urban VVF centre in the region. Method : A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to interview 266 VVF patients in MMSH between April and June 2009 to determine their medical and social problems. Results : Their ages ranged between 14 and 64 years with a mean age of 25 years with standard deviation of 9.7 years. Most of the patients had their first marriage between 14 and 17 years and had their first deliveries at ages between 16 and 19 years, majority of them 183 (68%) were still married at the time of the study. Faecal incontinence, foot drop, peri-natal losses were found to be their main medical problems, while divorce and social out casting were their main social problems. Conclusion: VVF patients experience medical and social problems, and despite improvements in the social acceptance and awareness about VVF patients from the community, more needs to be done to help the future

KEY WORDS: Vesico-vaginal fistula, prolonged labour, social Outcasts, perinatal mortality, divorce