Health 25 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Myths Delay Fistula Treatment for Teenage Mothers in Uganda
Harmful cultural beliefs and fear of stigma often cause young mothers in Uganda to delay seeking medical help for obstetric fistula, a preventable childbirth injury. Survivors are now sharing their stories to combat these misconceptions and encourage timely treatment. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/how-myths-delay-fistula-care-for-teenage-mothers-5508422
Many teenage mothers in Uganda suffer in silence from obstetric fistula, a condition often exacerbated by myths surrounding its cause, delaying crucial medical intervention. For 17-year-old Sanyu, the uncontrollable leakage of urine following a prolonged labour was initially attributed to witchcraft. Her family sought help from traditional healers, but their efforts only worsened her condition.
“I thought it was witchcraft. My family first took me to witch doctors, and we also tried traditional herbs because we believed someone had bewitched me. The condition only became worse,” Sanyu recounted. It wasn’t until later that she learned the injury was medically treatable.
Obstetric fistula is an injury resulting from prolonged obstructed labor, leading to an opening between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum. This causes continuous leakage of urine or feces, leading to immense social stigma and psychological distress. The Ministry of Health estimates that over 200,000 women in Uganda live with this condition.
Health workers note that teenage pregnancies are a significant factor contributing to fistula cases. Midwife Abagail Musenero explains that adolescent mothers often avoid healthcare facilities due to fear of judgment. Furthermore, delayed referrals from traditional birth attendants, who sometimes handle deliveries instead of directing high-risk pregnancies to medical centers, pose a major challenge.
Survivors like Sanyu and 26-year-old Christine Nachisikwe are now actively involved in community awareness campaigns. They share their painful experiences to educate young women that fistula is a medical condition with available treatment, not a curse. Volunteers are also conducting outreach programs to promote family planning, early antenatal care, and safe delivery practices, aiming to dispel deeply ingrained myths and encourage prompt medical attention.