ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2022
A retrospective review of genital fistula occurrence in nine African countries.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prognostic Factors of Transvaginal Repair for Vesicovaginal Fistulas: A 5-Year Single-Center Study.International urogynecology journal · 2026Observational
- Counseling strategies and challenges for addressing infertility and infertility concerns following female genital fistula repair: perspectives from fistula care providers in Uganda.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Equivalence between physicians and associate clinicians in the frequency of iatrogenic urogenital fistula following cesarean section in Tanzania and Malawi.Human resources for health · 2024Article
- Causal Link between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Fistula: Evidence from Mendelian Randomization Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Rare causes of genital fistula in nine African countries: a retrospective review.BMC women's health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFemale genital fistulas are abnormal communications that lead to urinary and/or fecal incontinence. This analysis compares the characteristics of women with fistulas to understand how countries differ from one another in the circumstances of genital fistula development.
methodsThis retrospective records review evaluated demographics and circumstances of fistula development for 6,787 women who sought fistula treatment between 1994 and 2017 in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, and Ethiopia.
resultsMost women developed fistula during childbirth, whether vaginal (3,234/6,787, 47.6%) or by cesarean section (3,262/6,787, 48.1%). Others had fistulas attributable to gynecological surgery (215/6,787, 3.2%) or rare causes (76/6,787, 1.1%). Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia had comparatively high proportions following vaginal birth and birth at home, where access to care was extremely difficult. Fistulas with live births were most common in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia, indicating more easily accessible care.
conclusionsCharacteristics of women who develop genital fistula point to geographic differences in obstetric care. Access to care remains a clear challenge in South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Higher proportions of fistula after cesarean birth and gynecological surgery in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia signal potential progress in obstetric fistula prevention while compelling attention to surgical safety and quality of care.
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