Access to High Quality Surgical Repair Services is a Fundamental Right of Patients with Obstetric Fistulas: A Study on Quality-of-Life Data in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2024-09-16 | Télécharger

BACKGROUND :

Obstetric fistula (OF), a devastating complication of childbirth, remains a tragic reality in many parts of the world, particularly in low-resource countries. OF is characterized by an abnormal communication between the genital tract and the urinary or gastrointestinal tract, leading to persistent urinary or fecal incontinence. Research has documented the enormous physical and psychosocial consequences of living with OF, including the impact that persistent incontinence has on ones’ quality of life (QoL). OF patients are often exposed to social stigma, isolation, and psychological distress, which negatively impacts their QoL and wellbeing. Added to this is the emotional impact these women suffer following the deaths of their newborns, in most cases, and their abandonment by their husbands.

This study demonstrated significant impairments across all domains of QoL among OF patients before surgical repair, with substantial improvements observed after the surgery. Successful OF reconstructive surgery not only provides relief from the physical burdens of OF but also empowers patients to reintegrate into their familial and societal roles, contributes to the mitigation of social disparities, and ultimately fosters improved QoL. These results underscore the importance of improving access to high-quality surgical repair services as a fundamental right for OF patients and incorporating these SROF services into comprehensive reproductive health programs. The profoundly positive impact of successful surgical repair on patients’ QoL emphasizes the need for sustained efforts in raising awareness, preventing and treating OF, and offering a brighter future for patients, their families, and their communities. Preventive strategies and strategies to increase the request of medical attention have to be taught to all young women before marriage, pregnancy and delivery: the most important preventive strategies, like education, family counselling, care during pregnancy, instructions to traditional care centers to encourage them to refer women to health care official centers, should be mentioned.