Life Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula in Togo

Introduction: Obstetric Fistula (OF) is an abnormal communication between the bladder and the vagina or between the rectum and the vagina and or both. The objective was to describe the experience of OF by the victims. Methodology: The gynecology-obstetrics clinic of the CHU Sylvanus Olympio in Lome served as the framework for this study. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, which took place from February 28 to March 19, 2011. Results: A total of 76 women with OF were interviewed. Mothers were more attentive to the problems of women with OF (38.2%). More than half of women with OF (53.9%) were rejected by non-family circle. The vast majority of them have experienced a change in their sex life (75%). Before the fistula, 77.6% had an income-generating activity. The fistula was associated with a vulvar rash (55.3%). Women with OF (93.4%) had a permanent need for cleanliness. Conclusion: The pursuit of cleanliness is an important characteristic of women with OF. The latter are often abandoned by their husbands. All this experience leads women with OF to a “social death”.