Aetiological Factors of Female Genitourinary Fistula

The purpose of this observational cross-sectional study was to evaluate the histories of women with urinary incontinence caused by genitourinary fistulae in Bangladesh. This is an exploratory analysis to investigate possible contributing factors to the development of urogenital fistulae. Sixty four (64) women who were treated for urogenital fistulae at the National Fistula Center, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh were interviewed from July 2013 to December 2013. Their average age was 35.91 years; majorities were illiterate; had early marriage and came from poor family. Majority had height less than 150 cm, body weight 50 Kg or less and 67.19% of the women were multigravid. Obstetrical aetiology predominated in fistula causation and vesicovaginal fistula was the most frequent fistula type. Most of the women with fistulas did not receive antenatal care (88.46%); had developed a fistula after laboring for 48 hours or longer (59.61%) with vaginal delivery (59.61%) at home (57.69%) and within seven days of delivery (63.45%). Most women who experienced fistulae also had poor obstetric outcomes. Increasing access to emergency obstetric care is of paramount importance to prevent fistula formation.