Grappling to Give Uganda’s Fistula Patients Dignity

In Uganda, two percent of women of a reproductive age have experienced fistula, according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2011. Credit: Amy Fallon/IPSBy Amy FallonKAMPALA
, Nov 19 2013 (IPS) Ever since giving birth to a stillborn baby 15 years ago, Mary*, a peasant farmer from Mubende District in central Uganda, has continuously leaked urine. “I am home all the time. I don’t go out to the market, I don’t go to church,” says the 35-year-old, speaking through a translator in a crowded ward at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the country’s capital, Kampala. Every time Mary drinks something, her bladder empties out the contents and she is forced to constantly pat herself dry with old clothes. Mary has obstetric fistula. Defined as a hole between the vagina and the bladder, or between the vagina and rectum of a woman that results in the constant leakage of urine and/or faeces through the vagina. The medical condition is predominantly caused by prolonged or obstructed labour lasting more than 24 hours. Mary’s labour lasted three days. As the nearest hospital was too far away, Mubende District is some 144 km west of Kampala, a traditional birth attendant took Mary to a small health facility when she went into labour. For 48 hours she remained there, trying to give birth to her child. On the third day she was taken to a district hospital where she was able to deliver her stillborn baby. Abandoned by the father of her child, Mary was later ostracise...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Africa Bitter Pill: Obstacles to Affordable Medicine Development & Aid Featured Gender Headlines Health Poverty & MDGs Projects Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations Women's Health Fistula Pregnancy Uganda United Natio Source Type: news