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Increasing Access to Fistula Services :

Women’s Perspectives

Myths and misunderstandings abound related to the causes and consequences of fistula. Predominantly the consequence of obstructed labor, fistula affects women of all ages and all parities.

While some women are abandoned because of their condition, many rely on the support of husbands or other family members after they experience fistula. The longer it takes to gain access to services, the more likely the woman is to remove herself from contact with others or to be stigmatized. The physical, mental, and social toll of obstetric fistula and traumatic gynecologic fistula worsens over time. In addition to the needs of women with obstetric fistula, Fistula Care has focused attention on meeting the needs of women whose fistula is deemed incurable and those who experience traumatic gynecologic fistula as a result of sexual violence. 

This section includes research findings  about women’s experiences living with fistula, a meeting report summarizing the discussions of experts on meeting the needs of women with fistula who are deemed incurable, stories of women from countries where Fistula Care has worked, and a Facilitator’s Guide for discussing women’s stories with various audiences.

View the Resources and Tools.

© 2013 EngenderHealth.

This resource was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the terms of the cooperative agreement GHS-A-00-07-00021-00. The information provided on this resource is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the USAID or the U.S. Government.