International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A combination of preventable factors is causing Ugandan women with fistula to be neglected by society. 

Often, patients lack the knowledge that the condition can be repaired and some are too ashamed of their condition to seek help, but a very small proportion find their way to one of the few facilities in the country to offer any sort of aid - Mbarara Referral Hospital.

"Most of these women you see here have been abandoned and neglected by their husbands because of fistula and [they] have married other women. It is a condition that most husbands seem not to bear", head of the clinic's gynaecology ward Asiya Kirunda told Monitor.

He explained that fistula is caused by obstructed labour and is made more likely because of the lack of trained health care professionals on hand to help women during the birthing process.

Mr Kirunda added that young mothers are at particular risk as their reproductive organs are not fully developed to handle the strain of delivery.

Posted by Martine Ward