Department of Community Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Ann Afr Med. 2021 Apr-Jun;20(2):132-137. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_35_20.
Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) has devastating effects on a woman's hygiene, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and environment disrupting all elements of her health. Despite VVF being a persistent condition, very few researches have been conducted in Nigeria to determine the quality of life (QoL) of these patients. This study was carried out with the aim of assessing the QoL of VVF patients receiving care in a repair center in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria.
This was cross-sectional study conducted at a VVF repair center in Sokoto. Study population comprised of patients who had undergone VVF repair at the health facility. The total number of study participants present at the facility was 81, and all were recruited into the study. The study assessed socio-demographics and QoL of the respondents. Data obtained were entered into IBM software package and subsequently analyzed. Level of significance was set at 5%.
The environmental domain had the highest mean score of 51.7 ± 11.8 while psychological domain had the least score of 41.3 ± 14.3. The mean overall QoL and general health were 49.5 ± 10.2. There was a moderate positive correlation between physical domain score and Age, (r = 0.258, P < 0.005). There was also a positive correlation between psychological domain score and Husband's educational status (r = 0.241, P < 0.05). Social relationship domain score positively correlated with being married (r = 0.414, P < 0.01).
Older study participants had higher mean scores for physical and psychological domains, while younger study participants had higher overall QoL and general health scores compared with older study participants. Future research should compare the pre and postoperative QoL of women who undergo repair of obstetric fistula.
膀胱阴道瘘（VVF）对女性的卫生、自尊、人际关系和环境造成了毁灭性的影响，破坏了她健康的所有元素。尽管 VVF 是一种持续存在的疾病，但在尼日利亚，很少有研究来确定这些患者的生活质量（QoL）。本研究旨在评估在尼日利亚西北部索科托的一个修复中心接受治疗的 VVF 患者的生活质量。
这是在索科托的一个 VVF 修复中心进行的横断面研究。研究人群包括在该医疗设施接受 VVF 修复的患者。当时在该设施的研究参与者总数为 81 人，所有人都被招募到研究中。该研究评估了受访者的社会人口统计学和生活质量。获得的数据输入到 IBM 软件包中，然后进行分析。显著性水平设定为 5%。
环境领域的平均得分最高，为 51.7 ± 11.8，而心理领域的得分最低，为 41.3 ± 14.3。总体生活质量和一般健康的平均得分为 49.5 ± 10.2。身体领域的得分与年龄呈中度正相关（r = 0.258，P < 0.005）。心理领域的得分与丈夫的教育程度呈正相关（r = 0.241，P < 0.05）。社会关系领域的得分与已婚呈正相关（r = 0.414，P < 0.01）。
年龄较大的研究参与者在身体和心理领域的平均得分较高，而年龄较小的研究参与者的总体生活质量和一般健康得分较高，与年龄较大的研究参与者相比。未来的研究应该比较接受产科瘘修复的女性的术前和术后生活质量。
