New Report Maps Fistula in Africa

Finds Hidden Condition Widespread

CONTACT:

Micol Zarb, UNFPA, (212) 297-5042 zarb@unfpa.org

READ THE REPORT ONLINE

June 18, 2003 — The first report ever to map obstetric fistula in sub-Saharan Africa was launched today by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and EngenderHealth. Obstetric fistula, a debilitating pregnancy-related disability caused by prolonged obstructed labour, leaves women constantly leaking urine and/or faeces.

RESOURCES:

Fast Facts Prevention & Treatment Needs Assessment Report:Findings from Nine African Countries How You Can Help

The new report indicates that current figures on the number of women living with fistula—estimated at 2 million—are too low, since they are based on patients who seek treatment in medical facilities. In Nigeria alone, there could be as many as 1 million women living with fistula, the report says.

“We hope this report will sound a global alarm about fistula,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director. “Most women living with fistula today suffer in silence, unaware that a simple cure is available. These women deserve our immediate attention. That is why UNFPA has launched a global campaign to prevent and treat fistula.”

The new report, Obstetric Fistula Needs Assessment: Findings from Nine African Countries, shows that many fistula sufferers are abandoned by their husbands, forced out of their homes, ostracized by family and friends and even disdained by health workers, who consider them ‘unclean’. Without skills to earn a living, some have no choice but to beg or turn to sex work to survive. Women living with fistula in sub-Saharan Africa are usually under 20 (some as young as 13), illiterate and poor, according to the findings.

“Women with fistula are living indicators of failed maternal health systems,” said Dr. Amy Pollack, President of EngenderHealth. “Almost all women who develop fistula attempt to deliver their babies at home without skilled medical care. These women remain in labour for many days and the baby usually dies. No one is there to help them.”

The report assesses the capacity of 35 hospitals in nine countries to treat patients and outlines their needs for equipment, skilled medical staff and surgical supplies. In many countries, doctors are unable to meet the demand for care. The report highlights the need to train more local doctors in fistula surgery and points to a heavy reliance on visiting, volunteer surgeons. In Uganda, one visiting doctor worked day and night, but could only operate on 20 of the 200 women who came for treatment before he had to leave.

Fistula is both preventable and treatable and is virtually unknown in places where early pregnancy is discouraged, young women are educated, family planning is accessible and skilled medical care is provided at childbirth.

The new report is available online at www.unfpa.org/fistula/docs. The nine countries include Benin, Chad, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia.

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