Table 2.
Patient, fistula and contextual factors by route of repair undertaken
| Abdominal/combined, n (%) | Vaginal, n (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total (n = 1273) | 57 | 1216 |
| Patient characteristics at baseline | ||
| Parity > 3 | 34 (61.8) | 410 (34.9) |
| Age > 25 years | 41 (71.9) | 566 (46.5) |
| Currently married | 36 (63.2) | 793 (65.2) |
| Rural residence | 52 (91.2) | 1035 (85.8) |
| >Primary education | 19 (33.3) | 246 (20.3) |
| Average years with fistula (SD) | 4.1 (6.5) | 3.2 (5.4) |
| Malnutrition | 3 (5.3) | 72 (5.9) |
| Anaemia | 6 (10.5) | 84 (6.9) |
| Fever | 0 (0.0) | 20 (4.7) |
| Uterine tract infection | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.2) |
| Foot drop | 0 (0.0) | 64 (5.3) |
| Female genital infibulation | 11 (9.3) | 40 (7.8) |
| Previous repair | 14 (24.6) | 281 (23.2) |
| Fistula characteristics | ||
| Abdominal repair indicated* | 52 (91.2) | 447 (37.2) |
| Fistula size ≥ 4 cm | 8 (15.7) | 248 (21.3) |
| Small bladder | 12 (23.5) | 326 (28.8) |
| Extensive scarring | 2 (3.5) | 93 (7.7) |
| Extensive tissue loss | 8 (15.4) | 127 (10.5) |
| Extent of urethral damage | ||
| No damage | 48 (87.3) | 710 (58.5) |
| Partial damage | 3 (5.5) | 278 (22.9) |
| Complete transection/destruction | 4 (7.4) | 222 (18.4) |
| Mid-vaginal location | 3 (5.4) | 366 (30.2) |
| Trigonal location | 6 (10.5) | 60 (5.0) |
| Supratrigonal location | 7 (12.3) | 25 (2.1) |
| Juxtacervical location | 5 (8.9) | 219 (18.2) |
| Intracervical location | 7 (12.5) | 74 (6.1) |
| Vesico-uterine location | 10 (17.9) | 11 (0.9) |
| Vault location | 3 (5.3) | 32 (2.7) |
| Ureter involvement | 25 (43.9) | 183 (15.2) |
| Other abdominal pathology | 1 (1.8) | 1 (0.1) |
| Facility level factors/characteristics | ||
| Site A | 9 (15.8) | 61 (5.0) |
| Site B | 2 (3.5) | 46 (3.8) |
| Site C | 0 (0.0) | 5 (0.4) |
| Site D | 8 (14.0) | 238 (19.6) |
| Site E | 0 (0.0) | 67 (5.5) |
| Site F | 0 (0.0) | 68 (5.6) |
| Site G | 1 (1.8) | 52 (4.3) |
| Site H | 1 (1.8) | 207 (17.0) |
| Site I | 0 (0.0) | 146 (12.0) |
| Site J | 26 (45.6) | 133 (10.9) |
| Site K | 10 (17.5) | 193 (15.9) |
| Surgeon performed over 200 complex repairs | 7 (12.3) | 404 (35.0) |
SD, standard deviation.
*
Female genital infibulation, extensive scarring, extensive tissue loss, trigonal, supratrigonal, intracervical, vesico-uterine location, ureter involvement or concomitant abdominal pathology.