Predictors for Vesicovaginal Obstetric Fistula Among Mothers Attending Kitovu Hospital in Masaka District

Abstract

Introduction: The vesico-vaginal is the most common of all the obstetric fistulae (Reassen, 2014). Estimates suggest that at least 3 million women in poor countries have unrepaired vesicovaginal fistulas, and that 30,000-130,000 new cases develop each year in Africa alone. Study methods: This study was a retrospective case-control study design. A pretested researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 50 cases (VVF patients) and 100 controls (mothers discharged from Kitovu hospital after giving birth). Data obtained was entered using Epi-data and analyzed by SPSS (Version 20). All significant variables (P-value < 0.05) at bivariate analysis were fed into the binary logistic regression model and those significant at this level were put in a multivariate model and predictors of VVF determined this way. Objective: The main objective of the study was to determine the predictors for vesico-vaginal obstetric fistula among mothers attending Kitovu hospital in Masaka District so as to enhance the VVF preventive strategies. Results: Married mothers were 3 times more likely to develop VVF compared to those who were not married (OR = 3.8), P-value = 0.000). Employed mothers were 4 times more likely to get VVF compared to those who were not employed (OR = 4.2; P-value = 0.001). Mothers who delivered a still birth for the pregnancy that led to VVF were 5 times less likely than those who gave birth to live babies. (OR = 0.2: P-value = 0.000). Conclusion and recommendations: Among the socio-demographic factors, only marital status and employment status were significant in the occurrence of VVF. No individual and health facility factors had a relationship with occurrence of VVF. Among the obstetric factors, only the outcome of the pregnancy (live still birth) had a relationship with the occurrence of VVF. VVF occurred mostly in mothers who did not have significant socio-demographic, individual, health facility and obstetric issues. There is a need of wide spread health promotion activities in the prevention of VVF like mass campaigns and carrying out health education about VVF during antenatal.