Uganda
10 years — average time a woman with fistula suffers without treatment
6
Burkina Faso
31.7% of the population uses contraceptives
9
Worldwide
65% of women with fistula are victims of forced marriage
3
Worldwide
830 women die every day from pregnancy or childbirth related causes
4
Worldwide
99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries
7
Worldwide
Approximately 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years and 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth each year in developing regions
2
Burkina Faso
The average age of first birth among women is 19.4 years old
9
Worldwide
Can women with fistula still have children?
For women who get fistula in their first pregnancy, 70% end up with no living children. After a successful fistula repair surgery, a woman may still give birth, although c-sections are recommended to prevent re-opening the fistula.
Worldwide
Do women with fistula need multiple surgeries?
Depends on difficulty level. 40% of patients treated at DFC have had 2 or more prior, unsuccessful surgeries elsewhere.
Kenya
Kenya is the 10th most dangerous country for a woman to give birth
12
Worldwide
How many women and girls suffer from fistula?
Approximately 2 million.
1
Worldwide
How successful is fistula surgery?
The majority of fistula closures are successful. About 15% continue to leak due to problems with the bladder and urethra. Many women and girls who suffer fistula have other related injuries including nerve damage, partial paralysis and traumatic pelvic conditions that require ongoing physical therapy.
Niger
Just 11% of women over 15 years old are literate
5
Kenya
Most maternal deaths are related to obstetric complications and unsafe abortions
11
Niger
Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world. The average Nigerien woman has 7 children.
5
Ethiopia
On average, girls receive 8 years of education
10
Worldwide
Only 1 in 50 women have access to fistula treatment
8
Ethiopia
There are 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people
10
Uganda
There are just 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people
13
Worldwide
Can a fistula heal on its own?
No. A fistula can only be repaired through surgery.