TITLE:
Assessing Strategies of Obstetric Fistula Management by Nurses/Midwives of Yaoundé Central Hospital and University Teaching Hospital
AUTHORS:
Dobgima Walter Pisoh, Takang William Ako, Bassong Yves Pierre, Tah Nji Joy Mah, Achuo Ascensius Mforteh, Tameh Theodore, Boten Bouyom Pierre Merlin, Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
KEYWORDS:
Obstetric Fistula, Management, Midwives, Nurses
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.13 No.7,
July
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: Every minute, a woman dies in pregnancy, and for every woman who dies 20 - 30 others will survive with morbidity, one of which is obstetrical
fistula. Women who suffer from obstetric fistula experience continuous
incontinence of urine and/or stool, stigma, social isolation and associated
health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that there are currently
more than 2 million women living with untreated obstetric fistula mostly in
sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, as well as in various other parts of
the world. Caring for fistula patients and nursing them back to full physical
and mental health can be one of the most challenging and also rewarding tasks
undertaken by nurses. The surgery cannot succeed without proper pre-, peri- and
post-operative care. The patients undoubtedly recover better with high-quality care—meaning the truly holistic, generous,
and selfless care of a nurse who has the skills, understanding and
determination to help these very vulnerable patients. Objective: This
research seeks to assess the strategies of obstetric fistula management by
nurses/midwives of Yaoundé central hospital and CHU by exploring the care they
offer to clients pre-operatively, post-operatively, and when they are
discharged from the hospital. Achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3
still remains a challenge to the developing countries although maternal
mortality reduction is a priority agenda of
each country. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study design employed a sample of 100
nurses/midwives on active service, and who have at least managed a case of
obstetric fistula. A quantitative questionnaire was used to collect data, which
was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The study proved a highly
significant difference between management and qualification, with a p-value of
0.002. Also, it showed that there was a statistically
significant difference between longevity of service and management with a
p-value of 0.001. A majority of respondents were nurse assistants (52%), and up
to 43% of respondents had 11 - 20 years of work experience. Up to 53% did not offer standard care with
respect to their qualification, and up to 52% did not offer standard care with
respect to their longevity in service. Conclusion: VVF is the most
common type of obstetric fistula with a frequency of 6 to 10 cases, there is an
overall poor management of obstetric fistula by nurses and midwives in YCH and
CHU. There is an urgent need to train and retrain these health workers on the
management strategies of obstetric fistula and to remind them of their personal
commitment as care givers.