Uganda - Campaign to End Fistula

267.0 CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH FISTULAA total of 30 patients with VVF were found admitted in the wards either waiting forsurgery or recovering from surgery and were interviewed using questionnaire number 2.7.1 Age distributionAge: ≤15 16 – 20 21 – 25 26 – 30 ≥310 8 (26.6%) 7 (23.3%) 5 (16.7%) 10 (33.3%)There were young girls average age 21 years. At the time of this study, those abovethirty one years had lived with the disease an indicator of the degree of neglect orinaccessible services. There should be introduced programmes that target delay ofpregnancy and sexuality among young (adolescent) girls.7.2 Marital StatusStatus: Married Single Separated WidowsNumber: 10 (33.3%) 10 (33.3%) 9 (30.0%) 1 (3.3%)Only 33% of the women were in stable marriage. Instability in marriage or spouserelationship is common among women with fistula.7.3 Menstrual patternMenses: Regular Irregular AmenorhoeaNumber 26 (86.7%) Nil 4 (13.3%)A few women exhibit amenorrhoea with VVF and may be due to pituitary damagedisorders or severe genital tract sepsis as a result of prolonged labour.7.4 Parity distributionParity Primepara 2 – 4 ≥5Number: 20 (66.7%) 6(17.5%) 4 (13.2%)The majority (69.3%) sustained the fistula in their first pregnancy. Although mothersgain false confidence after the 3 rd delivery that nothing can go wrong, 13.2% of thewomen had more than 5 deliveries. Among the multiparious women, obstructed labourfrequently results in ruptured uterus other than VVF.7.5 Educational Standard:Education level: None P1 – 3 P4 – 7 Secondary Post SecNumbers: 6 (19.8%) 7 (23.1%) 15 (49.5%) 2 (6.6%) 0