Frequency and management of non-obstetric fistula in the Democratic Republic of Congo: experience from the Fistula Care Plus project

Objective To describe the frequency, causes and post-repair outcomes of NOF in hospitals supported by the Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods Retrospective cohort study from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017 in three FC + supported fistula repair sites. Results Of 1984 women treated for female genital fistula between 2015 and 2017 in the three FC + supported hospitals, 384 (19%) were considered to be non-obstetric fistula (NOF) cases. 49.3% were married/in a relationship at the time of treatment vs. 69% before the fistula, P < 0.001. Type III (n = 247; 64.3%) and type I (n = 121; 31.5%) fistulas according to Kees/Waaldijk classification were the most common. The main causes of NOF were medical procedure (n = 305; 79.4%); of these, caesarean section (n = 234; 76.7%) and hysterectomy (n = 54; 17.7%) were the most common. At hospital discharge, the fistula was closed and dry in 353 women (95.7%). Conclusion Non-obstetric fistula, particularly due to iatrogenic causes, was relatively common in the DRC, calling for more prevention that includes improved quality of care in maternal health services.