Can obstetric fistula cause death?

An obstetric fistula occurs when a mother has a prolonged, obstructed labor, but doesn’t have access to emergency medical care, such as a C-section. She often labors in excruciating pain for days. Tragically, her baby usually dies.

Why is fistula called the silent epidemic?

notes that fistula, while 100 percent preventable, is a silent epidemic because it primarily affects poor girls and women in developing countries. Taping rights: Can be used up to one year after program is recorded off the air.

When is World fistula day?

23 May 2021
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula Statement, 23 May 2021. Obstetric fistula (OF) is a devastating childbirth-related disability affecting mainly poor women in low resource regions.

What are the three types of obstetric fistula?

Different types of obstetric fistula

• vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), between the bladder and vagina.
• urethrovaginal fistula (UVF), between the urethra (bladder outlet) and vagina.
• rectovaginal fistula (RVF), between the rectum and vagina.
• ureterovaginal fistula, between the ureters (kidney tubes) and the vagina.

How does obstetric fistula affect the poorest women?

Women with obstetric fistula are indicators of the failure of health systems to deliver accessible, timely and appropriate intrapartum care. Obstetric fistula disproportionately affects the poorest women, whose voices are scarcely heard.

Why is fistula so rare in developing countries?

Ensuring skilled birth care at all births and providing timely and high quality emergency obstetric care for all women and girls who develop complications during delivery would make fistula as rare in developing countries as it is in the industrialized world.

When was the first international day to end obstetric fistula?

In 2013, the United Nations commemorated the first International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, on 23 May, to raise awareness of this issue and mobilize support around the globe. The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is observed annually around the world by partners committed to ending fistula.

When does an obstetric fistula occur in Bangladesh?

Among women with obstetric fistula from Bangladesh and Ethiopia 97 percents screened positive for potential mental health dysfunctions and about 30% had major depression. In less-developed countries, obstetric fistulae usually develop as a result of prolonged labor when a cesarean section cannot be obtained.