RISK FACTORS FOR OBSTETRIC FISTULA IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA 2013: A CASE CONTROL STUDY
*Ismail Tukur, Chan Cheekhoon, Tin Tinsu, Tukur Muhammed- Baba and Munir’deen Aderemi Ijaiya
ABSTRACT
For each maternal death, approximately 10 to 15 other women sustain serious morbidity, including obstetric fistula (OF). The most effective approach to reducing OF occurrence is to provide essential obstetric services at the community level with prompt access to emergency obstetric services at the first referral level. This study examined availability of Emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services and factors that influenced the utilisation of the services and identified the potential risk factors of obstetric fistula among women in Nigeria. A case–control study with a sample of 200 (1:1) was conducted from August to September 2013 at three selected hospitals in North-Western Nigeria. Cases were patients diagnosed as having OF within the last 3years. Controls were patients (without OF) admitted to maternity units of these hospitals. The odds ratio was used as a measure of association with their corresponding 95% confidence interval. Variables with p-value of <0.1 were included in the logistic regression model to generate adjusted Odds Ratios. Generally, Having Formal educational (OR; 0.013, CI; 0.001-0.530), Having Husband permission (OR; 0.028, CI; 0.001-0.664). Duration of labour ≥ 24hr (OR; 2.659, CI; 1.138-7.512), Delay in the decision to seek facility care (OR; 2.770, CI; 1.760-3.950), Affordability of facility care cost (OR; 7.432, CI; 3.925-13.682).are risk factors for obstetric fistula. Health Education programs to both women and men with traditionally palatable messages that will change their attitudes and practices to take responsibility in reproductive health and empowerment of women can be a promising strategy to reduce the occurrence of obstetrics fistula.
Keywords: Risk-Factors, Obstetric fistula.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
