Preventing birth injury among women in Africa: case studies in northern Nigeria.
Among the most serious maternal injuries from childbirth in Africa is vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). Case studies of 55 VVF patients in northern Nigeria showed them to be poor, underage village women without sufficient access to modern health facilities at the time of the injury. Suggestions for short-term and long-term preventive measures are presented and discussed.
Ojanuga
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School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009549:Nigeria; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology; D014719:Vesicovaginal Fistula / Q000517:prevention & control*