Abstract:

Vesico-vaginal fistula is an abnormal hole between the urinary bladder and the vagina leading to involuntary discharge of urine into the vagina. Vesico-vaginal fistula still remains one of the main morbidities of childbirth in developing world and Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is a typical example.

The study was aimed at identifying those predisposing factors to VVF in women of Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi State. It is a cross-sectional descriptive community based study and a total of 386 women of child bearing age were assessed using interviewer administered questionnaires.

The study revealed that 80% (309) of the studied population were aware of VVF. The study also revealed that the predisposing factors to VVF were influenced by one’s level of education and employment status as both variables were statistically significant. Level of education and employment status were directly proportional to one’s knowledge and inversely proportional to those predisposing factors to the development of VVF.

In conclusion, major breakthrough is still needed in order to get the women of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to actually know about VVF and those predisposing factors for the development of VVF. To decrease those predisposing factors that can lead to VVF; the study suggested advocacy, health education, economic empowerment of women, girl child education and improving the socio-economic status of women as tools to bringing the desired change.

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