title: Pilot study utilizing a patient educational brochure at a vesicovaginal fistula hospital in Nigeria, Africa.
abstract: This paper presents a pilot study exploring the utility and feasibility of use of a vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) patient educational brochure. Women awaiting or recently having undergone VVF surgery examined a six-paneled educational brochure detailing the causes, treatment options, and prevention methods of VVF. Participants answered demographic questions and gave detailed responses to a questionnaire that addressed the brochure material. A convenience sample of 50 patients, with a mean age of 26.1 years, participated. Universally, these women felt that the information they learned from the brochure was useful. Suggestions by participants regarding prevention of VVF included laboring in a hospital (80%), educating other women (30%), and discouraging early marriage (8%). Primary barriers to prevention and treatment included financial restraints (84%) and transportation difficulties (30%). The utilization of a simple, low-cost educational brochure has the ability to educate women on the causes, treatment, and prevention of VVF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Women's Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. kimgerten@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gerten
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.forename: Andy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shu'aibu
authors.forename: Holly E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014719:Vesicovaginal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult