Abstract
Objective
An obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury resulting in uncontrollable leakage of urine and/or feces and can lead to physical and psychological challenges, including social isolation. Prior to and after fistula repair surgery, social support can help a woman to reintegrate into her community. The aim of this study was to preliminarily examine the experiences of social support among Tanzanian women presenting with obstetric fistula in the periods immediately preceding obstetric fistula repair surgery and following reintegration.
Patients and methods
The study used a mixed-methods design to analyze cross-sectional surveys (n=59) and in-depth interviews (n=20).
Results
Women reported widely varying levels of social support from family members and partners, with half of the sample reporting overall high levels of social support. For women experiencing lower levels of support, fistula often exacerbated existing problems in relationships, sometimes directly causing separation or divorce. Many women were assertive and resilient with regard to advocating for their fistula care and relationship needs.
Conclusion
Our data suggest that while some women endure negative social experiences following an obstetric fistula and require additional resources and services, many women report high levels of social support from family members and partners, which may be harnessed to improve the holistic care for patients.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Pili Nyindo for her contributions to this study. This project was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, grant R21 HD073681 (PI, Watt). Manuscript preparation was in part supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations, Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Department of Veteran Affairs or the United States government.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.