Obstetric Fistula

Obstetric fistula is a physical injury that occurs during a prolonged birth, where the baby becomes stuck inside a woman’s body. The injury is a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, resulting in uncontrollable leaking of urine and/or faeces. Left untreated, this is the reality for a woman or girl for the rest of her life. Added to this trauma, is the reality that 90% of pregnancies where the woman develops fistula, results in stillbirth.

While obstetric fistula has been virtually eradicated in the developed world, millions of women and young girls in the developing world are living in poverty as outcasts from their society, rejected by their husband, family and community because they are suffering from the devastating consequences of obstetric fistula. The baby they were expecting will often have died unborn.

Obstetric fistula is a wholly preventable condition, provided that appropriate medical and obstetric facilities including emergency caesarean section are available. The continuing problem of obstetric fistula is a clear sign that the world is failing in its duty to meet the needs of women in developing countries. Its eradication in the developing world needs to be given global priority.

Click below to find the official SafeBirth4All campaign website, with more detailed information about the campaign.