Background: Obstetric fistula (VVF) is a disease predominantly affecting most women from African countries and southern Asia. This is an embarrassing disease where by women with the condition are affected in all aspects that is physiologically, psychologically and socially. Most of their babies die, in Tanzania approximately 1,200 new cases develop each year.
Problem statement: Vesicovagina fistula is a major problem affecting women most in developing countries with bad consequence annually especially if untreated, according to WHO 50,000 to 100,000 women are affected annually worldwide, the society should be aware with the problem and specific interventions should be done to alleviate the problem.
Rationale: There was a need to know the level of knowledge and awareness of VVF and identification of socio-demographic factors associated with VVF development among patients admitted at Bugando medical centre for specific intervention to be done for prevention of fistula.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and socio-demographic factors influencing Vesicovagina fistula.
Literature review: According to the study done in different areas showed that women in urban have a little bit high knowledge on VVF compared to those from rural areas. Also having low education was another factors other factors included home delivery, scarcity of health facilities and poor economic status.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Bugando medical centre in gynecological ward (E4) within five weeks involving all women with VVF. The results were analyzed by computer installed with SPSS program then distributed to obstetrics and gynecology department, school library and the school of public health.
Results and discussion: 50 patients were interviewed and most of the patients found to have less than 23 years, with low education, poor economic status and poor diet with the proportion of 48%, 94%, 70% and 86% respectively. Most of them attempted to deliver at home before getting to the health facility but 24% admitted to deliver at home also 68% found to have poor knowledge on VVF. All of the above were the risk factors for their development of VVF.
Conclusion: In general many patients had poor knowledge and awareness of VVF. Several risk factors found to influence fistula development which include young age delivery, multiple delivery, low education, poverty, home delivery and poor nutrition.
Recommendation: The government should prepare specific interventions considering the above factors based on alleviating or preventing the development of VVF. Examples preparing special sessions through mass media and direct contact educating the society at least the basic knowledge about VVF as well as introducing it to primary and secondary schools.
Wurzburg Road 35, BMC Premises, Post Code: 33102: P. O. Box 1464, Mwanza – Tanzania: Phone: +255 28 298 3384: Fax: +255 28 298 3386: Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz : www.bugando.ac.tz