This Tuesday is the International Day for the Eradication of Obstetric Fistula, one of the most aggressive birth injuries, but one that can be almost completely prevented.
This lesion consists of a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, caused by prolonged and obstructed delivery without access to timely and quality medical treatment.
According to him Population Fund of the United Nations, leaves women and girls leaking urine, feces, or both, and often leads to chronic medical problems, infections, infertility, depression, social isolation, and deepening poverty. 90% of pregnancies with fistula end in fetal death.
For these reasons, the body recalls that it is essential redouble efforts to reduce maternal injuries and disabilities and denounces that health systems and communities are not doing enough to end this problem.
Gender discrimination and social marginalization create additional riskscausing fistula to occur disproportionately among impoverished, neglected and marginalized women and girls.
Solutions to prevent it
The Population Fund recommends three solutions to prevent fistula: timely access to obstetric and newborn care high-quality emergency assistance, midwifery professionals in the birth and universal access to contraception modern.
In addition, the agency stresses that healthcare systems can reduce fistula by monitoring prevalence, correcting gaps in care and ensuring universal access to competent healthcare personnel.
National health plans should also address gender discrimination and other factors that make women and girls more vulnerable to maternal mortality and disease.
Finally, the Fund considers that, in order to end fistula by 2030, the global goal within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, political leadership and increased investment are essential.
500,000 women had a prolonged labor
A prolonged and obstructed labor can not only cause the fistula, it can also lead to the death of the mother and stillbirth.
Unfortunately, it is estimated that for half a million women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab States region, and Latin America and the Caribbean, childbirth lasted too long, with devastating consequences.
world campaign
The Population Fund leads the global campaign to eradicate fistula, and should it occur, to ensure that women and girls have access to comprehensive treatment, including surgical repair and social reintegration and rehabilitation. The campaign has been running for 20 years.
Despite the advances, the organization stresses that the eradication of fistula by 2030 requires accelerated action. For this reason, the motto of the international day of 2023 is “20 years later: progress but not enough! Act now to end fistula by 2030”.
