Contraception knowledge and practice among fistula patients at referral centers in Kenya

Objective: To establish knowledge and practice of contraception among patients presenting with a fistula attending fistula care services at 4 centers in Kenya. Methods: In a descriptive cohort study carried out between January and December 2011, patients presenting with a history of urine and/or stool leakage were screened and those with confirmed diagnosis of fistula were assessed and prepared for surgery. Informed consent was obtained from study participants before surgical intervention. After surgery, a standard questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographics, duration of leakage, and reproductive health practices. Results: A total of 206 patients were interviewed. Most of the patients were young (mean age 22 years). Literacy was low: only 1.7% reported tertiary-level education, and 56.7% reported primary-level education. With regard to family planning, 76.2% of patients expressed a willingness to use contraception after fistula repair. Conclusion: Among patients presenting with a fistula in Kenya, the unmet need for family planning was high. There is an urgent need for healthcare providers to integrate family planning services in fistula care programs. (C) 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.