Introduction:

Obstetric fistula refers to an abnormal hole that connects a womans vaginarnand bladder or vagina and rectum through which urine and/or fecal matter leaksrncontinuously. The underlying causes of obstetric fistula include early marriagesrnteenage pregnancies Female Genital Mutilation FGM assault and surgical trauma.rnIt is estimated globally that more than half a million women of reproductive age diernfrom complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Out of this statistic about 99rnpercent occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This was a descriptive cross-sectionalrnstudy which was conducted at Makueni County in eastern part of Kenya.

Objectives:

a. This studyrnsought to investigate the socio-demographic factors influencing utilization of ObstetricrnFistula services among women of reproductive age in Makueni County

Methodology:

The study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.rnQuantitative data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered byrntrained Research Assistants. A total of 389 questionnaires were considered fitrnrepresenting a 92.18 response rate. Quantitative data was cleaned and entered intorna Microsoft excel database before being analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Descriptivernstatistics were presented using percentages frequency tables graphs and pie-charts.rnInferential statistics were calculated to establish the association between studyrnvariables using chi-square tests done at 95 confidence interval and p-values of lessrnthan 0.05 considered statistically significant

Findings:

The findings of this studyrnwould help relevant stakeholders in structuring programs and strategize onrninterventions related to creation of community awareness and thus improve the healthrnseeking behaviors towards utilization of obstetric fistulae screening services. Thesernresults would also be of use to the Ministry of Health for purposes of health educationrnand for policy formulation and implementation with regards to workable short-termrnand long-term obstetric fistulae interventions.

Results:

The results revealed that only 32 95CI 27 - 37 of respondents utilizedrnobstetric fistula services in which counseling was the most sought service at 44.4rn95CI 36 - 53. Chi-square analysis showed that there was a significant statistical association betweenrnage p0.001 level of education p0.002 occupation p0.001 average monthlyrnfamily income p0.011 and utilization of obstetric fistula services.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that there were low utilization rates low knowledge levelsrnand negative perceptions towards obstetric fistula services. The findings of this studyrnwould help relevant stakeholders in structuring programs and strategize onrninterventions related to creation of community awareness and thus improve the healthrnseeking behaviors towards utilization of obstetric fistulae screening services. Thesernresults would also be of use to the Ministry of Health for purposes of health educationrnand for policy formulation and implementation with regards to workable short-termrnand long-term obstetric fistulae interventions.

Author(s):

Focus County(s):

Makueni County

Programme Area(s):

Sexual, Reproductive, Adolescent & Child Health

Research Priority Area(s):

aging and sexual and reproductive health

Disease Domain(s):

Obstetric Fistula

Publication Date: 25.Apr.2021

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