Percepções e práticas sobre prevenção e tratamento da Fístula obstétrica entre mulheres jovens na cidade de Maputo

Abstract

This research sought to capture perceptions and practices on prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula among young women in Maputo city. The research analyzes the perceptions that young women have in relation to prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula. The argument defended in this research is that perceptions and practices about obstetric fistula are influenced by access to information and experience about the disease. A qualitative method was used to collect the data. This method consisted of administering 17 semi-structured interviews to young women aged between 18 and 34 years old, who had experienced an obstetric fistula. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. The analysis was supported by the phenomenological theory of Alfred Schutz. Regarding the results, it was found that for the study participants, the perceptions of the obstetric fistula take various forms, the young women relate the development of the fistula to witchcraft, the divine willing, but they also relate the disease to the fact that they have been undergoing cesarean surgery. These perceptions are in the system of beliefs, practices, knowledge and interpretations that influence the explanatory model, and the process of therapeutic care of obstetric fistula. Also noteworthy is the presence of ingrained cultural practices that also influence participants perceptions in relation to fistula.