Abstract:
This study was on the Assessing Psychosocial Challenges of women with Vesico-Vagina Fistula at National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Specifically, the three objectives of the study were to; assess how VVF affect the emotional health of patients, determine how the attitude of significant others affect their social health and determine some correlates of VVF among the patients. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Reliability coefficient of 0.73 was obtained using Spearman Brown’s prophesy formula. Thirty-five participants who met the inclusion criteria were studied using convenience sampling method. Instruments for data collection were a researcher developed focused group discussion guide and questionnaire. Data obtained with the questionnaire and FGD were analyzed from a descriptive perspective. Results obtained from the questionnaire were presented in Tables while FGD excerpts were reported as quotation or paraphrases with narrative summaries presented in bar charts. The correlation studies done using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were reported in Tables. The study showed that VVF affected patients emotional health because it led to unhappiness, worries and shame, while the attitude of their significant others which most of them reported as avoidance affected their social health because it led to avoidance of social functions, separation from husband, deprivation of sex and lack of physical attention. Moreso, there was a direct positive relationship between the avoidance attitude of significant others and the social health of participants, as well as, a positive correlation between the patients feeling of unhappiness and their avoidance of social cum religious functions. The researcher recommended that more doctors and nurses should be encouraged to specialize in VVF repair to speed up rehabilitation of patients, while more health campaigns, community outreaches and health education through the mass media should be organized to facilitate the support of VVF patients by their significant others.
