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HWN Suggests

Why obstetric fistula will still exist...

While we debate about the over-medicalization of childbirth in the United States, in much of sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, women are delivering in facilities often lacking fundamental tools such as electricity. Basic surgical instruments, materials and personnel needed to perform a cesarean delivery in the case of obstructed labor are missing. The result is often death of the child and at times, the mother. The women who survive the difficult childbirth frequently develop a fistula, or hole, as the baby’s head applies constant pressure on the pelvic tissues, interrupting the normal blood supply and killing the underlying tissues. The result is an unnatural connection, usually between…

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Resources

End Fistula

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Fistula Foundation

We provide life-changing surgery to women left incontinent by childbirth Women with fistula and severe perineal tears are too often treated as modern-day lepers. Surgery can restore a woman's health and hope for the future.

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Operation Fistula

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Worldwide Fistula Fund

To protect and restore the health and dignity of the world’s most vulnerable women by preventing and treating devastating childbirth injuries. In 2017, we expanded our mission from a focus on treating and empowering women and girls with obstetric fistula to helping women with any childbirth injury. The decision was largely fueled by the high number of women coming to us who thought they had fistula but had pelvic organ prolapse or another injury.

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WHO

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