Characteristics of obstetric urogenital fistulas in a regional teaching hospital in Burkina Faso: a retrospective cross-sectional study

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Résumé

Introduction: Obstetric fistula (OF) remains a
major public health problem in low-income
countries. This study aimed to investigate the
sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic
characteristics of obstetric urogenital fistulas in a
regional teaching hospital in Burkina Faso.
Methods: a retrospective cross-sectional study
from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019
included 50 women who underwent OF surgery
repair in the regional teaching hospital of
Ouahigouya in Burkina Faso. Case identification
was completed by self-reported constant urine
leakage and was confirmed by clinical assessment.
Data
on socio-demographic, clinical, and
therapeutic characteristics have been collected
from the hospital medical records and analyzed.
Results: the mean age of the patients was 29.40 ±
9.4 years (range 15 -55 years). The majority of
patients were in the age group between (15-25)
years old (44%). Forty-three patients (86%) were
residing in rural areas and forty-seven patients
(94%) were housekeepers. Twenty-six patients
(52%) were primiparous. The majority of patients
had received no prenatal care 29 (58%). The
majority of patients had a spontaneous vaginal
delivery 36 (72%). The duration of labor was
greater than 48 hours in 31 (62%) patients.
Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF) accounted for 80% of
cases.
Ten (20%) patients had previously
undergone surgery for the same fistula. The mean
size of the fistulas was 1.8±1.4 cm (range 0.5 - 6
cm). At three months of follow-up, the successful
closure rate was 68%. Sixteen (32%) patients
have experienced a failure of fistula closure.
Conclusion: the majority of fistula survivors were
women of reproductive age who were living in
rural areas and housekeepers. Mothers having no
antenatal care, and having prolonged labor were
at increased risk of developing OF. The majority of
fistulas were simple fistulas and the most common

Mots-clés

Obstetric fistulas, prolonged labor, Burkina-Faso