Womens’ experiences of living with obstetric fistula in Ghana – Time for the establishment of a Fistula Centre of Excellence

Abstract Objective To explore the experiences of women living with Obstetric Fistula in Ghana. Design A descriptive qualitative design involving face-to-face semi-structured interviews following institutional ethical approval. Setting Urban and rural setting in the Mfantseman Municipal Area (MMA) in the Central Region (CR) of Ghana Participants A purposive sample of thirty- two women who had experienced obstetric fistula (OBF) Findings Three core themes emerged and these were i) Women's perceptions of OBF, ii) Experiences of women living with OBF iii) Coping strategies of women living with OBF Conclusion and implications for practice There is a need for a multi-agency coordinated approach to the treatment and management of OBF in Ghana. The findings support the need for a dedicated specialist fistula centre to treat women and to meet the educational needs of health care professionals with strategies to prevent as well as support women with OBF. The hub and spoke organisation design for health care systems has proved beneficial in other health settings providing a level of quality that would not be possible otherwise. It is time to end the suffering of women living with obstetric fistula.