To describe the circumstances of occurrence and identify potential risk factors for obstetric fistula in northern Cameroon.
Results
Among obstetric fistula patients, 60% had lived with obstetric fistula for more than 5 years at the time of surgery. Eighty-one percent of patients had received no formal education and 86% were teenagers at their first delivery. Regarding the pregnancy and delivery preceding the occurrence of the fistula, 50% of women reported that they had received no prenatal care and 76% were in labor for more than 12 hours. The majority (83%) of women delivered a stillborn baby.
Conclusions
Obstetric fistula patients in the Far North Province of Cameroon had a low level of education, were married at a young age, and had poor access to quality maternal healthcare services.