KENYA: Focus on fistula
It is both preventable and treatable, but obstetric fistula plagues the lives of thousands of women in Kenya every year, leaving them incontinent and ostracized. Here are some reasons why:
Information deficit
Lack of reproductive health education means there is widespread ignorance of the basic facts about fistula - a tear in the birth canal caused by prolonged obstructed labour, or by sexual abuse, surgical trauma, gynaecological cancers and related radiotherapy treatment. According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), there are 3000 new cases per year in Kenya, with about one to two fistulas per 1000 deliveries.
Many affected women are not aware that fistula can be repaired. Misinformation about fistula leads to delays in seeking treatment. Some women think incontinence is normal after delivery.
