Afroja Akhter1, Toufiqua Hossain2, Roksana Haque3, Shafiqur Rahman4,
Sabrina Barkat Biva5, Kazi Iman6
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Gynae & Obstetrics, Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College, Munshiganj, Dhaka
2. Professor, Department of Gynae & Obstetrics, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka
3. Associate Professor, Department of Gynae & Obstetrics, Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College, Munshiganj, Dhaka
4. Consultant, Department of Urology, Noakhali Medical College and Hospital, Noakhali
5. Register, Department of Pediatrics, Dr MR Khan Shishu Hospital & ICH, Dhaka
6. Assistant Professor, Department of Gynae & Obstetrics, Monno Medical College, Dhaka
Abstract
Obstetric fistula is the presence of a hole between a woman’s genital tract and urinary tract (i.e. vesico-vaginal fistula) or between the genital tract and the intestines (i.e. recto-vaginal fistula). Both Vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal fistula are associated with a persistent offensive odor leading to the social hazard of these affected women.It was an observational study conducted on 50 patients at DMCH in 2013. The mean age was 42.32 (±SD 10.38) years and leading age group was 41-50 years (34%). Most of the respondents were Muslims (82%), housewives (96%) and illiterate (78%). Only 10% of respondents were get married after 18 years with average age of marriage was 15.06 (±2.09) years. Patients were married for varied length of years which ranges from 3 to 44 years. The mean (±SD) duration of married life was 26.92 (±10.9) years. The average age of 1st delivery was 16.42 (±2.3) years. Mean(±SD) height and weight of the respondents were 140.86 (±6.928) cm and 46.06 (±7.266) kg respectively. Vaginal delivery was done in 52% of patients. Most (64%) of the respondents delivered their baby at home and 36% women gave history of institutional delivery. Doctors conducted the delivery in 21 cases. Still birth was the outcome in 25 (50%) patients and early neonatal death occurred in 5 cases (10%). Obstetric fistula is totally preventable by strengthening the capacity of ante-natal care (ANC) providers. Traditional Birth Attendants and other community health workers can be utilized to educate the community about the risk factors of obstetric fistula. Simultaneous efforts should also be made to improve the status of women in society and reduce poverty and illiteracy among women.
Key Words: Risk Factors, Obstetric Fistula