An investigation of sociomedical risk factors associated with vaginal fistula in northern Nigeria.

In some countries in Africa it is customary for early marriages involving young adolescent girls to be contracted prior to the commencement of their menses. This practice often results in premature pregnancies which in turn leads to devastating physical and social consequences such as vesico vaginal fistula (VVF). VVF is a severely demoralizing and disabling childbirth injury among women who become incontinent as a result of an opening created between the vagina and bladder. A case control study of 50 VVF patients and 50 non-VVF village women was undertaken in Katsina, Nigeria. Statistical analysis showed that VVF patients were smaller in stature, had less education and were of lower socioeconomic status. Also, the analysis showed that both groups of women married and commenced childbearing at an age too early for a safe delivery, thus placing them at risk of VVF. Predictive variables for the condition are: age at marriage, parity, husband's occupation and level of education.