Reasons for Delay in Presentation of Vesicovaginal Fistula Patients at Tertiary Health Facility

Abstract

Objective:To explore the factors that lead to the delayed presentation of VVF in our circumstances.
Method: This is a retrospective case series study which was conducted in department of Urology Services Hospital Lahore from January,2021 to March,2022. Patient name, age and possible factors that can lead to delayed presentation of VVF to the tertiary care hospital were entered in pre designed Proforma. All data was analyzed with SPSS 25.
Results: Total 82 patients with diagnosis of VVF were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 38.50 years. The average period from the onset of symptoms to presentation at Services Hospital Lahore was 23.34 months. Approximate distance from the hospital was 34.1% patients from within 50km, 30.5% from 50 to 100 km, 17.1% patients from 100 to 200km and 18.3% patients were more than 200km. Regarding educational status, 30(36.6%) patients were uneducated, 30(36.6%) studied up to primary level and 22
(26.8%)were educated to secondary level. Out of 82 patients, 18 (22%) had a monthly income of 10000 to20000 Rupees, 45(54.9%) had a monthly income of 20000 to 30000 thousand Rupees, and 19(23.2%) had a monthly income of more than 30000 Rupees. All the patients in this research were initially treated by a local health care practitioner i.e. GP, Quacks, Homeo dr, RHC doctor and Hakeem etc.
Conclusion: Vesicovaginal fistulas patients present late at specialized centers because most of them are poor,
illiterate, from far furlong areas and also because they get initial treatment from untrained practitioners.

How to cite: Mahmood A, Farooq H, Shah AA, Farooq M, Ghouri S, Anwar AS. Reasons for Delay in Presentation of
Vesicovaginal Fistula Patients at Tertiary Health Facility. Esculapio - JSIMS 2022;18(04):108-113