Abstract
Obstetric fistula is a major public health problem in low-income countries. It is also one of the most severe childbirth injuries that occur when labor is allowed to progress for a period lasting from several days to a week without timely medical intervention, usually a cesarean section. While its main cause is untreated obstructed labor, misconceptions about it still exist. The qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used to explore and describe socioeconomic and healthcare causes of obstetric fistula from the perspective of women affected by it in Tanzania. The study was conducted in the two hospitals managing girls and women with obstetric fistula in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza Regions. A convenient sampling technique was used to select 16 women who were interviewed and 151 additional women who responded to a questionnaire. The perceived socioeconomic and health system causes of obstetric fistula fundamentally reflected the challenges faced by women at home, on their way to an adequate health facility, and the subsequent poor quality of obstetric care women received at healthcare facilities. The women's perception emphasizes the importance of empowering women socially and economically, as well as improving the quality of obstetric care offered by providers in the healthcare facilities. This will ensure that women access quality and safe obstetric care as per Tanzania National Health Policy and achieve Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5.
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This study was supported by Gender, Generation and Social Mobilization (GeSoMo) – NUFU Project.
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Mselle, L.T., Mpanda, S.M. (2022). Socioeconomic and Healthcare Causes of Obstetric Fistula in Tanzania: Perspectives from the Affected Women. In: Drew, L.B., Ruder, B., Schwartz, D.A. (eds) A Multidisciplinary Approach to Obstetric Fistula in Africa. Global Maternal and Child Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06314-5_13
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