Healthcare Access as a Risk-Marker for Obstetric Vesicovaginal Fistula in Malawi

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between access to health care among pregnant women in Malawi and occurrence of obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). METHODS: This was a case-control study using data obtained from patients’ records documented by the ‘Fistula Care Center-Bwaila Hospital’ in Malawi. Socio-demographic characteristics of women with VVF (study arm, n=1046) and perineal tear (control arm, n=37) were examined. A composite variable called “Malawi Healthcare Access Index” (MHAI) was created through summation of scores related to three factors of access to care: (1) walking distance to closest health center; (2) presence of trained provider at delivery; and (3) receipt of antenatal care. Binomial logistic regression models were built to determine the association between the MHAI and presence of VVF. RESULTS: Obstetric VVF was more common in women from rural areas, mothers delivering at extremes of age, those with less education, and patients with long labor (>12 hours). In adjusted models, women with “insufficient” health access based on the MHAI were at greater risk (OR = 2.64, 95%CI = 1.07 – 6.03) of obstetric VVF than women with “sufficient” score on the MHAI. CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Inadequate access to essential obstetric care increases the risk of VVF.