Obstetric fistula; A disease that brings shame, depression, poverty and rejection to some women.

Hello my fellow steemian, I watched a movie titled "Dry" this afternoon. This movie inspire me to write an article on obstetric fistula which according to research, it has brought shame, rejection poverty and even broken some women marriages.

Millions of girls and young women in poor countries are living in shame and isolation, they often abandoned by their families, husband and communities leaving them to suffer.

What Is Obstetric Fistula?

It is an abnormal openings between two areas of the body.

Image source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstetric_fistula

Obstetric fistula occur due to complications which arise during child birth. Most often to occurs when a woman withstands days of obstructed labor, when a baby's head is constantly pushing against her pelvic bone during contractions, preventing blood flow and causing tissues to die.

If labour remains obstructed, the unrelenting pressure against the pelvis can greatly reduce the flow of blood to the soft tissues surrounding the bladder, vagina and rectum.

If the mother survives, this kind of labour often when the fetus die and gradually decompose enough to slide out he vagina. The injured pelvic tissue also rots away, leaving a hole or a fistula between adjacent organs.

A caesarean section can be carried out so as to deliver the baby safely and also to keep the mother alive as well.

Fistula can also be caused directly by sexual violence and coital trauma which can lead to infection (lymphogranuloma venereum) and female genital mutilation.

Underlying Social Causes Of Obstetric Fistula

• Most fistula victims are women living in Poverty in traditional cultures such as South Asia, Ethiopia, Northern part of Nigeria where girls at tender age of 10-15yrs are forced into marriage.

Women's status and self esteem in such areas depend entirely on their marriage and ability to bear children.

• Early marriage and child birth

• Harmful traditional practices

• Inadequate family planning

• Sexual violence

Complications Which May Be Associated With Obstetric Fistula

• Chronic pyelonephritis, hyoronephrosis and bladder stone.

• Renal failure.

Image source: http://kuponafoundation.org/another-chance/

• Vaginal stenosis (Scarry) and dyspareunia (pain) during intercourse.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease, amenorrhea and infertility.

• Osteitis pubis (infection in the bone and pubic symphysis).

*Malnutrition.

• Urea dermatitis ( chronic irritation) and excoriation of skin (labia, perineum, groin) from contact with urine and stool.

Prevention Of Obstetric Fistula

• Adolescent and maternal nutrition.

• Education and empowerment for women.

• Delaying marriage and child bearing.

• Prevent women from developing fistula through health promotion and awareness, and the development of high quality basic and comprehensive material health services.

• Availability of professional Doctors and Nurses qualified to treat these patients.

• Monitoring of every labor with the pantograph for early recognition of obstructed labor...

Thank you so much for reading and kindly upvote and comment on this....