Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Cult Health Sex. 2023 Mar;25(3):320-335. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2041098. Epub 2022 Feb 24.
Resulting from prolonged obstructed labour, iatrogenic and traumatic aetiologies, female genital fistula in low-resource settings causes a significant physical and psychosocial burden. Social support is an important mechanism to build resilience to health challenges. This study aimed to understand the role of emotional, informational and tangible social support for Ugandan women affected by fistula. Thirty-three participants who had had fistula surgery 6-24 months prior to the study were recruited from Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Data from in-depth interviews ( = 16) and 4 focus group discussions were analysed thematically using a social support framework. Various individuals were key providers of social support across the different domains. They included family, friends, community organisations, and other women affected by fistula. Social support was critical in helping women cope with fistula, access fistula care, and post-repair recovery. Women relied heavily on tangible and emotional support to meet their physical and psychological needs. Support-enhancing interventions for women and their families, particularly those offering emotional and tangible support, may be a promising strategy for improving the experiences and quality of life of women affected by fistula.
由于分娩过程受阻时间过长、医源性和外伤性等原因，资源匮乏环境下的女性生殖器瘘会给患者带来严重的身体和社会心理负担。社会支持是建立对健康挑战的适应力的重要机制。本研究旨在了解情绪、信息和有形社会支持在应对乌干达女性生殖器瘘患者健康挑战方面的作用。研究从乌干达坎帕拉的穆拉戈医院招募了 33 名在研究前 6-24 个月接受过瘘管手术的参与者，对其进行深入访谈（16 次）和 4 次焦点小组讨论的数据进行了主题分析，使用社会支持框架。在不同领域，各种个人都是社会支持的重要提供者。这些人包括家人、朋友、社区组织和其他患有瘘管的女性。社会支持对帮助女性应对瘘管、获得瘘管护理和修复后恢复至关重要。女性严重依赖有形和情感支持来满足其身体和心理需求。为女性及其家庭提供支持增强干预措施，特别是提供情感和有形支持的干预措施，可能是改善受瘘管影响的女性体验和生活质量的有前途的策略。
