Women's Health Commons^™

Provider Perspectives On Persistent Urinary Incontinence Following Obstetric Fistula Repair In Ethiopia, Laura E. Jacobson, Melaku Abriha Marye, Elena Phoutrides, Rahel Nardos

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Each year an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula. This devastating but preventable maternal morbidity leaves women incontinent, stigmatized, isolated, and often with a still birth. While fistula rates in Ethiopia have declined in recent years, estimates range from 7 to 40 percent of women suffer from persistent urinary incontinence after successful closure of their fistula. Few studies have focused on the unique experiences and challenges that providers face treating fistula patients, particularly those who experience persistent urinary incontinence. The goal of this research is to characterize the fistula provider's accounts of how to manage, …