WHEP Scholar Alyson Kim
Drexel University College of Medicine, Class of 2024

Obstetric fistulas are socially debilitating injuries that often occur when there are no options for emergency intervention (e.g., C-sections) in the setting of prolonged labor. Due to necrosis from obstruction, women suffer from fecal or urinary incontinence secondary to fistula formation between the vaginal tract and the nearby rectum or urethra. This population of patients is predisposed to this injury as a result of lack of access to urgent medical care, and the journey to recovery becomes all the more challenging as a specialized fistula surgeon is required for surgical repair. Furthermore, incontinence often leaves them socially ostracized by the community and even family members, exacerbating the difficulties of obtaining necessary medical care by the removal of an essential support system. My study explores the barriers and facilitators to accessing fistula care through qualitative thematic interviews conducted with patients at the Gynocare Fistula Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.