ACQUIRE Fistula Care

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USAID supports fistula prevention, repair and reintegration in seven states in Nigeria

Obstetric fistula (obstructed labor) is a serious maternal health concern in Nigeria.  The 2008 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that an estimated 2 million women in sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia, and the Arab world are living with the condition, and some 50,000 - 100,000 new cases occur each year. Because of the fear of rejection, shame, and stigmatization, affected women are often reluctant to reveal their condition.

Obstructed labor remains a leading cause of maternal death and disability.  Obstetric fistula is the result of prolonged labor without prompt medical intervention, which causes a hole in a woman’s birth canal.  Often the woman then suffers from chronic incontinence and, in many cases, the loss of the baby. Without prompt medical attention and access to caesarean section services, obstructed and prolonged labor can lead to still-births, neonatal deaths, and maternal disability. Women with fistula often feel ostracized and are sometimes deserted by their husbands, family, and friends.

Fistula is treatable, but ma ny women lack access to the required medical care and funds to pay for treatment. Fistula can be surgically repaired only where trained surgeons and good post-operative care are available.  USAID supports community-based studies to estimate the number of cases and prevalence of fistula in Nigeria so that programs are better able to respond to the need appropriately.  Currently, USAID is working through ACQUIRE Fistula Care Project in seven states to provide treatment for women with obstetric fistula, as well as provide services to prevent the condition.

ACQUIRE Fistula Care Strategy 

ACQUIRE increases access to high quality fistula prevention, repair and reintegration services, and promote the use of maternal health care and voluntary family planning. To improve the lives of those already suffering from fistula, ACQUIRE trains surgeons to conduct fistula repair and increases the availability of routine fistula services to reduce Nigeria’s backlog of fistula patients, often older women.  ACQUIRE also expands the availability of fistula services by increasing the capacity of health facilities to manage fistula cases and improving providers’ skills to counsel, diagnose, treat, and refer women with fistula.