Introduction 

Giving birth can be beautiful, but for those who return home with a baby in their hands and extra pain, the joy can quickly turn into a nightmare. Among the major illnesses kept secret that pollute women’s lives and stunt their full development is obstetric fistula. After giving birth, some women still have to face ridicule. The consequences are measurable not only from a medical point of view, but also from a psychological, social and above all economic point of view for those who are often destitute. It’s the beginning of misfortune.

Obstetric fistula is not a disease of shame

After contracting obstetric fistula, many women report being mocked in their communities, where some people consider them to be witches. Obstetric fistula is an opening that forms between the birth canal and the bladder or anus after a difficult birth. It is caused by a number of factors, including lack of information, early pregnancies, illiteracy, lack of access to healthcare, socio-cultural barriers and early and forced marriages, according to a specialised website. The direct consequence is uncontrolled leakage of urine and/or faeces. For women who contract this disease, daily life from the outset means intensive toileting. And the worst thing they have to face is society’s all-too-frequent judgement. Most women who contract this disease give birth to a stillborn baby. And for some societies this is a reason for exclusion. As a result, these women are expelled from their societies and their families because of their condition. Some even see their homes destroyed. 

We are in 2023, and it is unimaginable that obstetric fistula should prevent a woman from achieving her full potential. According to data provided by specialists, 80 to 90% of obstetric fistulas can be cured by surgery. As a result, a number of predispositions facilitating women’s access to these services have already been observed in Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia and Burkina Faso, where the problem has become increasingly prevalent since 2018. Togo is currently in the midst of implementing plan number 2 on the elimination of fistula. Similarly, the country has a national law on reproductive health which, according to UNFPA, provides for free treatment of fistula.

Additional actions to be taken to end obstetric fistula in Africa 

Firstly, the determination must come from the various communities to recognise that obstetric fistula has no satanic connotations. Governments must also ensure that health centres are set up in all regions, giving women rapid access to health services. In addition, raising awareness of the disease is one of the most important factors to focus on. In addition, training staff capable of repairing women suffering from obstetric fistula and setting up organisations to help them reintegrate into society will undoubtedly promote better care for these women. To date, it is difficult to quantify the number of women affected by obstetric fistula or those treated in Togo, but we do know that a demographic and health survey carried out in 2013 revealed that more than 18,000 women of childbearing age in the country suffered from the condition. 

Conclusion

No woman deliberately chooses to have obstetric fistula, so it is important to support them by setting up frameworks for listening, repairing and reintegrating them. What’s more, obstetric fistula can be prevented by following a few simple rules, such as consulting a professional early on in pregnancy for more effective monitoring.  To date, the biggest obstacle to eradicating the disease is that it remains untreated.