Title: Fistula -- a disaster for teenage mothers.

POPLINE Document Number: 108694

Source citation:

AIDS ANALYSIS AFRICA, 1995 Oct;5(5):3.

Abstract:

Obstetric fistula is one of the most severe childbirth-related complications. The small size and physical weakness of many young pregnant girls makes it extremely difficult for them to give birth to a child. Delivery is therefore often prolonged. During childbirth, girls' perineum often tears, leaving holes between the bladder and/or the rectum and the vagina. The young mothers from then on lose control over their bladder and bowels, are unable to bear more children, and find sexual intercourse painful. Such fistula are common in Somalia, Ethiopia, most Sahelian countries, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, but particularly so in Niger. 23,000 girls and women in Niger have the condition, or 1% of all women of child-bearing age. Obstetric fistula can, however, be cured by a simple operation. France recently announced a $400,000 aid project to help teenage girls in Niger with fistula and to discourage parents, village elders, and women's groups from marrying girls at too young ages. Doctors in Niger will be trained to surgically repair fistula, cured women will be helped to reintegrate into society, local health workers will be trained to recognize the early signs of fistula, and female genital mutilation will be discouraged because of its role in increasing the likelihood of fistula development.

Keywords:

Niger
Mothers
Adolescents, Female
Vaginal Injury
Africa, Western
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Developing Countries
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Adolescents
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Vaginal Abnormalities
Diseases