Medical School for International Health, Ben-Gurion University, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Glob Public Health. 2011;6(8):859-73. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2010.551519. Epub 2011 May 24.
This study explores barriers and facilitating factors women experience re-integrating into society after treatment of an obstetric fistula in rural Tanzania. A total of 71 women were interviewed in the Mwanza region of Tanzania, including a community control group. The majority of the women who received successful surgical repairs reported that, over time, they were able to resume many of the social and economic activities they engaged in prior to the development of a fistula. Familial support facilitated both accessing repair and recovery. For 60% of the women recovering from an obstetric fistula, work was the most important factor in helping them feel 'normal again'. However, physical limitations and other residual problems often hampered their ability to continue working. All of the treated women expressed interest in follow-up discussions with health care providers regarding their health and concerns about future pregnancies. Special attention is needed for women who are not completely healed and/or for those who experience other related medical or emotional problems after repair, especially if they lack a social network.
本研究探讨了坦桑尼亚农村地区产科瘘治疗后女性重新融入社会所面临的障碍和促进因素。在坦桑尼亚姆万扎地区共对 71 名妇女进行了访谈，包括一个社区对照组。大多数接受成功手术修复的女性报告说，随着时间的推移，她们能够恢复在瘘管发生之前从事的许多社会和经济活动。家庭支持有助于获得修复和康复。对于 60%从产科瘘中康复的女性来说，工作是帮助她们感觉“恢复正常”的最重要因素。然而，身体限制和其他遗留问题常常阻碍她们继续工作的能力。所有接受治疗的女性都表示有兴趣与医疗保健提供者就她们的健康和对未来怀孕的担忧进行后续讨论。需要特别关注那些尚未完全康复和/或在修复后出现其他相关医疗或情绪问题的女性，特别是如果她们缺乏社交网络的话。
