An estimated 3,000 women in Zambia suffered from obstetric fistula. Suggestions are that more women could be suffering from the same condition but do not report it due to fear of stigmatization. Incidences of obstetric fistula in Zambia may indicate that most pregnant women do not access the much-needed maternal health services, especially at the time of delivery. Therefore, determining the prevalence and understanding the factors that lead to obstetric fistula is vital for developing primary preventive interventions. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with obstetric fistula among women admitted at Kitwe Teaching Hospital for obstetric related conditions between 2021-2022.
Methodology: This study was a cross-section and used data from Kitwe Teaching Hospital patient records from 2021-2022 on women who gave birth at the hospital and those who gave birth from other hospitals and clinics and later developed obstetric complications that were referred to be managed at Kitwe teaching hospital. Physical interviews on the challenges women face by living with obstetrics fistula was done on the patients available at the institution during the data collection period. The study consisted of 950 women admitted at this hospital for obstetric related conditions. In compiling and analyzing the data collected, SPSS v 26.0 was used. Results were summarized in frequency distribution and cross tabulation tables and pie charts.
Results: A total of 30 women out of 950 women admitted for obstetric related conditions had obstetric fistula representing a prevalence of 3.15%. The identified risk factors were young age at getting married and first pregnancy (50% below 18 years), low socio-economic status, and long distance to the health facilities and home deliveries, low level of education and short physical stature. Half of the women (50%) had not attended antenatal care and had only primary level of education. The study also identified discrimination, stigma and limitation of participation on social and religious life as challenges fistula women face due to living with this condition. Other challenges included psychological, sexual and economic problems.
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