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Fistula is one of the major reproductive health problems in Ethiopia. It has been historical particularly in rural areas. Fistula literally means an unnatural opening between the internal and external part of the womb.
Here are some causes of fistula:
. Circumcision
. Unsafe and traditional abortion
. Rape
. Early marriage and pregnancy at an early age
. Long time labor with out medical support
Region wise, most of fistula patients live in rural areas. The figure goes up to 5000-8000 patients in one region on average. This is because of low awareness and biased attitude towards the disease. Stigma and discrimination is very common for women who suffer from fistula, because many believe that they are cursed and that it’s associated with bad spirits that will affect other people. Thus, the real cause of the disease is not understood clearly and many believe this misconception because the proper education is not given. People put low attention to traditional practices related to fistula and the disease remains to prevail. Girls aged 9-11 years old are the most affected group in Ethiopia, mainly due to forced early marriage.
There are many complicated problems associated to fistula. The major ones are:
- severe vaginal infection
- unable to control urine and faces
- bad smell and distressing odor
- loss of physical strength to perform the day to day tasks, learning, etc.
The good news is that we can prevent fistula. Here’s how:
-creating public awareness about the cause, the consequences and the nature of the disease;
-working on the elimination of harmful practices embedded in the society, especially practices related to sexual and reproductive health problems;
-promoting know-how and creating access to medical centers.
