[Knowledge, attitude and perception about obstetric fistula by Cameroonian women].
BACKGROUND
This study seeks to identify what the women who live in Maroua Cameroon know and think about obstetric fistula.


METHODS
It is a single hospital, cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study. Ninety-nine women in the maternity service of the Maroua Provincial Hospital were interrogated on obstetric fistula between May and July 2005, by enquirers who were trained health agents using a questionnaire which required both closed and open answers.


RESULTS
The women who had no previous knowledge of it were generally the illiterate (41.7% compared to 18.8%). More than a third of the women who had an idea of the fistula do not know that there is a surgical treatment for it. Whether they had the previous information on fistula or received it from us, one-tenth of the women suggested that suicide was the solution to fistula where as one-third of the women suggested that a patient suffering from fistula should be isolated.


CONCLUSIONS
Illiteracy contributes significantly to the lack of knowledge of this affection. The population has a poor perception and a strong negative attitude towards obstetric fistula as they see isolation or suicide as the solution to it.
Tebeu
P-M
PM
Service de gynécologie obstétrique, hôpital Provincial, Maroua B.P. 57, Cameroon. pmtebeu@yahoo.fr
de Bernis
L
L
Boisrond
L
L
Le Duc
A
A
Mbassi
A A
AA
Rochat
C-H
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires