Today, May 23rd, is the International Day To End Fistula
www.un.org/en/observances/end-fistula-day
Obstetric fistula
It’s a hole in the wall separating the vagina and rectum, or the vagina and urinary tract, usually caused by prolonged obstructed labour in childbirth. The pressure of the baby’s head cuts off the blood supply to vaginal tissue, and the tissue dies and disintegrates. In developed countries such as our own, a caesarean would usually be performed before this happened. It is also sometimes caused by sexual violence.
Physical symptoms may include faecal or urinary incontinence, repeated infections, pain during sex, skin damage from the continual flow, and potentially lower limb paralysis from the nerve damage caused by the leaking of urine or faeces.
The ramifications of this include complete social ostracization from their communities, on account of the odour.
Two million women today are living with the condition, and another 50,000 develop it each year.
As outlined above, it can be prevented if there are facilities to perform a caesarean section. Other than that, a major cause of obstetric fistulae is forced marriage of children and the resulting impregnation of girls who have not yet attained their full adult height. These girls’ immature pelvic bones are too narrow to allow the baby to pass through, with terrible consequences.
Obstetric fistulae are treatable- with reconstructive surgery. Unfortunately, the lack of medical care that meant it occurred in the first place also means women don’t have easy access to reconstructive surgery, either.
More details: www.unfpa.org/obstetric-fistula
organisations
www.freedomfromfistula.org.uk/
fistulafoundation.org/