Trigger warning: child loss/stillbirth
At just 14 years old, Fatima Koroma was compelled to marry due to her family’s dire economic situation. By the age of 15, she was pregnant—like many other young girls in Africa, she received no prenatal care. When labor began, her husband chose not to take her to a medical facility, instead relying on untrained traditional birth attendants. After enduring agonizing hours, Fatima tragically delivered a stillborn daughter.
The aftermath left her feeling “utterly incapacitated,” and she began to experience urinary leakage. In her community, these symptoms were attributed to sorcery, leading to her ostracization and labeling her as a witch. Unfortunately, Fatima is just one of two million women and girls in Africa suffering from a childbirth injury known as obstetric fistula.
Obstetric fistula occurs when labor is obstructed and emergency care is unavailable. Without timely medical intervention, the condition can lead to tissue death and create openings between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, resulting in incontinence. Alarmingly, obstetric fistula is entirely preventable; the high incidence is largely due to inadequate medical care and a shortage of trained midwives in developing nations.
“Women often labor for days, and if they reach a hospital, they may find no available doctor for a C-section or lack the funds to pay for one,” explains Sarah Miles, Director of Operations and Communications for Freedom From Fistula, a non-profit dedicated to eliminating obstetric fistula. In cases where timely medical care is not provided, stillbirth is almost a certainty, and mothers may face lifelong suffering unless they receive corrective surgery. With limited access to hygiene products like pads, soap, and clean water, these women often resort to using rags to manage their incontinence.
“Their lives are truly unbearable,” Miles emphasizes. “The odor can be so overwhelming that people avoid any contact.” These women often feel cursed and are forced into isolation, surviving on scraps and avoiding drinking due to the fear of worsening their situation.
When women arrive at Freedom From Fistula clinics, they frequently feel ashamed and withdrawn, believing they have shamed their families. To combat this, the organization provides clean clothing, incontinence products, and emotional support to address the trauma they have endured. “The first step to healing is reassuring them that obstetric fistula is not their fault, and that they are not alone,” says Miles. “Their emotional recovery is just as crucial as their physical healing.”
The encouraging news is that obstetric fistula can be treated successfully in 85% of cases. Through outreach efforts including screening teams, radio campaigns, and partnerships with patient ambassadors, Freedom From Fistula provides repair surgeries and medical care to around 1,000 patients annually.
These women are not mere statistics; they are individuals with real stories. In developed countries, obstetric fistula has nearly been eradicated, proving that with proper medical care, such childbirth injuries can be largely eliminated.
Patients range from 90-year-olds who have endured incontinence for decades to girls as young as 12, all entering the Freedom From Fistula clinics with low self-esteem. However, they leave “healed, empowered, and renewed.” Fatima has been fortunate to receive a free fistula-repair surgery from Freedom From Fistula. She has regained her ability to walk unaided and is on the path to both physical and emotional recovery.
“What impresses me most is the exceptional medical care provided at every moment,” Fatima shares. “Being here feels like home.”
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Summary:
Fatima Koroma, a young girl from Sierra Leone, suffered from obstetric fistula after a traumatic childbirth experience. This condition, which affects millions of women in Africa, is preventable with proper medical care. Organizations like Freedom From Fistula provide essential surgeries and emotional support, helping women like Fatima reclaim their lives and dignity. The success rate of fistula repair is high, and with advancements in medical resources, this condition can be virtually eliminated.
Keyphrase: obstetric fistula treatment
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