Obstetric fistula is almost always preventable. When a woman gets the right care at the right time, labour that goes wrong does not have to leave a lasting injury. Here are five ways families and communities can help.
- Go for antenatal care. Regular check-ups during pregnancy help health workers spot risks early and plan a safe birth.
- Plan to give birth with a skilled health worker. A midwife, nurse or doctor can recognise when labour is not progressing and act quickly.
- Get to a hospital early if labour is long or hard. Don't wait. Know in advance where the nearest facility is and how you will get there.
- Let girls grow up before they become mothers. Pregnancy before the body is ready raises the risk of obstructed labour. Ending early marriage protects girls.
- Say no to FGM/C. Female genital mutilation or cutting harms girls and women, and can make childbirth more dangerous.
Everyone has a part to play
Husbands, mothers-in-law, community and religious leaders all shape the choices a pregnant woman can make. When they support antenatal care and skilled birth, fewer women develop fistula.
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