Abstract:
Background: Obstetric fistula is a worldwide problem that affects women and girls mostly in Sub Saharan Africa. It
is a devastating medical condition consisting of an abnormal opening between the vagina and the bladder or
rectum, resulting from unrelieved obstructed labour. Obstetric fistula has devastating social, economic and
psychological effect on the health and wellbeing of the women living with it. This study aimed at exploring
social-cultural experiences of women living with obstetric fistula in rural Tanzania.
Methods: Women living with obstetric fistula were identified from the fistula ward at CCBRT hospital. Sixteen
individual semi structured interviews and two (2) focus group discussions were conducted among consenting
women. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and transcripts analysed independently by two researchers using a
thematic analysis approach. Themes related to the experiences of living with obstetric fistula were identified.
Results: Four themes illustrating the socio-cultural experiences of women living with obstetric fistula emerged from
the analysis of women experiences of living with incontinence and odour. These were keeping clean and neat,
earning an income, maintaining marriage, and keeping association. Women experiences of living with fistula were
largely influenced by perceptions of people around them basing on their cultural understanding of a woman.
Conclusion: Living with fistula reveals women’s day-to-day experiences of social discrimination and loss of control
due to incontinence and odour. They cannot work and contribute to the family income, cannot satisfy their
husband’s sexual needs and or bear children, and cannot interact with members of the community in social
activities. Women experience of living with fistula was influenced by perceptions of people around them. In the
eyes of these people, women who leak urine were of less value since they were not capable of carrying out
ascribed social roles.
