Understanding Healthcare-Seeking Pathways and Dilemmas Among Women with Obstetric Fistulas in Ethiopia: A Qualitative Inquiry

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Women with Fistula Participated in an in-Depth Interview at Addis Ababa and Oromia Fistula Centers, April to August 2019 (n=21)

Characteristic	Number of Women (n=21)	Percentage (%)
Age at interview
<20	1	4.8
20–24	5	23.8
25–29	3	14.3
30–34	8	38.1
≥35	4	19.0
Educational status
Not educated	14	66.7
Primary school	6	28.5
Secondary school	1	4.8
Marital status
Married	9	42.9
Divorced	10	47.6
Widowed	2	9.5
Occupation
Farmer	12	57.2
Daily laborer	4	19.0
Merchant	2	9.5
Student	3	14.3
Residence
Urban	4	19.0
Rural	17	81.0

Table 2 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Supplementary Informants Involved in an in-Depth Interview at Addis Ababa and Oromia Fistula Centers, April to August 2019 (n=12)

Characteristic	Number of Participants (n=12)	Percentage (%)
Types of supplementary informants
Family members (Males)	2	16.7
TBA (Female)	1	8.3
HEW (Female)	1	8.3
HCPs (3 Males & 4 Females)	7	58.4
Community leader (Male)	1	8.3
Age
30–34	5	41.7
≥35	7	58.3
Educational status
Primary school	4	33.3
Secondary school	2	16.7
College/University	6	50.0
Marital status
Married	9	75.0
Divorced	3	25.0
Occupation
Farmer	3	25.0
Government employee	4	33.3
Non-government employee	5	41.7
Residence
Urban	10	83.3
Rural	2	16.7

Abbreviations: TBA; - traditional birth attendant; HEW; - health extension worker; HCPs; -health care providers.

Table 3 Themes of Healthcare-Seeking Pathways and Dilemmas Among Women with Fistula in Ethiopia, April to August 2019 (n=33)

S. No	Main Themes	Sub-Themes
1	Care-seeking paths of fistula survivors	Where women go first for care Where women go lastly for care How women started care-seeking
2	Care-seeking path dilemmas	Reasons for care-seeking path dilemmas Reasons for late arrival at fistula centers Reasons for going to traditional places first
3	Support for care-seeking	Family support for care-seeking HCPs support for care-seeking Community support for care-seeking
4	Suggestions on care-seeking paths	Suggestions on where to seek care Suggestions on how to prevent fistula Suggestions to families of women Suggestions to fistula treatment centers

Figure 1 Care-seeking pathways among women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia.

Figure 2 Reasons for care-seeking path dilemmas among women with fistula in Ethiopia.