Sensitizing Community to Increase Uptake of Obstetric Fistula Repair Services in North-Western Tanzania

David P. Ngilangwa, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Edwin Swai, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Amos Nyirenda, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Angela Mapunda, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Agnes Magimba, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Rita Noronha, Amref Health Africa Tanzania
Festus Ilako, Amref Health Africa Tanzania

About 3,500 new cases of obstetric fistula (OF) occur yearly in Tanzania. Despite of the availability of OF repair and care services in some hospitals in the country, majority of affected women rarely seek services due to stigma and limited information. Our study aims to assess the impact of project’s community sensitization activities and media in increasing uptake of the OF repair services. A cross-sectional descriptive study using baseline and final project surveys data from three hospitals was conducted in north-western Tanzania. For one year, there had been an increase of more than 300% of OF repair at performed as compared of the baseline survey. Findings from this study show that number of OF affected women who sought services has been increasing. Therefore, intensification of OF community sensitization activities and scale up of repair and care services to the district hospitals should be considered to address the low uptake.