Impact of. obstetric-fistula on womanhood: the. case of West pokot county,Kenya
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Date
2014-11-03
Authors
Musyoki, Geraldine Kalekye
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Women in the developing world, are experiencing "unimaginable suffering" due to lack of
effective care during pregnancy and childbirth. Of particular interest in this study is the
formation of obstetric fistula. An obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between the vagina and
the bladder or rectum. The fistula results in the uncontrolled passage of urine and/or feces from
the bladder and/or rectum into the vaginal cavity. Non-fatal maternal childbirth injuries often
have devastating psycho-social and medical consequences which have a profound impact on
women's quality of life. This study seeks to explore the impact of obstetric fistula on
womanhood and demonstrate how these impacts shape the identities of afflicted women in West
Pokot County. The specific objectives will be to explore the social construction of womanhood
among the Pokot as well as look at the perceptions of women and men on the impact of obstetric
fistula. In addition, the study will also explore the socio-cultural explications of obstetric fistula
on Pokot "womanhood" and assess the social coping strategies employed by the afflicted
women. The study will be anchored on the Social Construction Theory and the ideology of
Ideology of Stigma and shame. The study will use the phenomenological approach to both
quantitative and qualitative research. Non-probabilistic sampling procedures to identify the study
site, target and general respondents will be used. The sample size will be determined by the
formula for single proportions of Kish and Leslie and estimations for the number of participants
to be included in the study made. The study's target respondents will be limited to women living
with and/or healed of obstetric fistula. Questionnaires, interview and focus groups guides will be
used to gather data. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and reported in
the form of frequencies, cross tabulations, and percentages. Qualitative data will be analyzed
manually using pre-determined themes. This study hopes to create awareness on the condition
from a gender perspective in the general public, change social attitudes and social interpretation
of illness and suffering, and provide information for building locally appropriate solutions