Experiences of social support among women presenting for obstetric fistula repair surgery in Tanzania

Figures & data

Table 1 Sample characteristics

	n (59)	%
Age (years)
18–24	12	20.3
25–34	10	16.9
35–44	13	22.0
45–60	15	25.4
61–80	9	15.3
Education level
Completed standard 7a or higher	30	50.8
Currently working to earn income
Yes	37	62.7
Religion
Christian	23	39.0
Muslim	35	59.3
Not religious	1	1.7
Average number of other adults in household
Mean (SD)	1.86 (1.805)
Range	0–11
Living children
Yes	39	66.1
Children delivered prior to developing fistula
Mean (SD)	1.76 (2.22)
Range	0–9
Relationship statusb
Married – nonpolygamous	17	25.4
Married – polygamous	12	20.3
Separated/divorced	16	30.5
Widowed	6	10.2
Never married	8	13.6
Currently living with husband or partner
Yes	29	49.2
Separated/divorced due to fistula
Yes	9	15.3
Months living with fistulab
Mean (SD)	170.95 (178.45)
Range	0–674
Fistula type
Leaking urine (VVF)	53	89.8
Leaking stool (RVF)	2	3.4
Leaking urine and stool (VVF/RVF)	4	6.8
Number of previous surgeriesb
0	44	77.2
1	8	13.6
≥2	5	9.2

Notes:

a Standard 7 refers to the last year of primary school before secondary school;

b Missing data; n=57.

Abbreviations: VVF, vesicovaginal fistula; RVF, rectovaginal fistula; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Demographic characteristics of qualitative subsample

Participant	Fistula type	Months living with fistula	Age (years)	Completed standard 7a or higher	Working to earn income prior to surgery	Religion	Number of living children	Number of other adults in household at follow-up	Relationship status at follow-up	Living with husband or partner at follow-up
01	VVF	173	40	No	No	Muslim	0	3	Married	Yes
02	VVF	168	46	Yes	Yes	Muslim	5	4	Married	Yes
03	VVF	10	44	No	Yes	Muslim	2	1	Married	Yes
04	VVF	14	26	No	Yes	Muslim	2	4	Separated/divorced	No
05	VVF	127	35	Yes	Yes	Christian	3	2	Married	Yes
06	VVF	1	30	No	No	Muslim	0	1	Married	Yes
07	VVF	229	50	Yes	No	Muslim	2	4	Married	Yes
08	VVF	409	65	No	Yes	Muslim	6	7	Married – polygamous	Yes
09	VVF and RVF	0	22	Yes	Yes	Muslim	0	2	Never married	No
10	VVF	15	24	Yes	No	Christian	2	2	Never married	No
11	VVF	387	53	No	Yes	Muslim	0	0	Separated/divorced	No
12	VVF	183	60	No	No	Muslim	8	2	Married – polygamous	Yes
13	VVF	232	39	No	Yes	Christian	1	1	Married	Yes
14	VVF	27	23	Yes	No	Muslim	4	5	Married	No
15	RVF	208	54	Yes	Yes	Christian	2	3	Widowed	–
16	VVF	209	31	Yes	Yes	Muslim	2	2	Separated/divorced	No
17	VVF	5	26	Yes	No	Christian	1	1	Married	Yes
18	VVF	9	36	Yes	No	Christian	0	0	Separated/divorced	No
19	VVF	13	35	Yes	Yes	Christian	1	2	Married	Yes
20	VVF and RVF	327	42	No	Yes	Muslim	0	1	Separated/divorced	No

Note:

a Standard 7 refers to the last year of primary school before secondary school.

Abbreviations: VVF, vesicovaginal fistula; RVF, rectovaginal fistula.

Table 3 Correlations with social support (n=59)

	Polychoric correlation (ρ) with social support	95% CI
Age	−0.24	(−0.51, 0.02)
Currently married	−0.23	(−0.57, 0.11)
Completed standard 7a or higher	0.24	(−0.10, 0.57)
Currently earning income	0.20	(−0.15, 0.55)
Presence of living children	0.24	(−0.11, 0.58)
Presence of adults in the household	0.12	(−0.17, 0.41)
Has experienced emotional abuse from partner	0.08	(−0.32, 0.49)
Has experienced physical abuse from partner	0.17	(−0.25, 0.58)
Urinary incontinence scoreb	0.24	(−0.05, 0.53)
Months lived with fistula	−0.04	(−0.33, 0.25)
Plans to discuss fistula during reintegration	0.62	(0.29, 0.96)
Depression score	−0.39	(−0.63, −0.15)
Self-esteem score	0.30	(0.03, 0.56)

Notes:

a Standard 7 refers to the last year of primary school before secondary school;

b n=53; individuals with only fecal incontinence were excluded from this correlation statistic.

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.