Pilot study utilizing a patient educational brochure at a vesicovaginal fistula hospital in Nigeria, Africa

This paper presents a pilot study exploring the utility and feasibility of use of a vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) patient educational brochure. Women awaiting or recently having undergone VVF surgery examined a six-paneled educational brochure detailing the causes, treatment options, and prevention methods of VVF. Participants answered demographic questions and gave detailed responses to a questionnaire that addressed the brochure material. A convenience sample of 50 patients, with a mean age of 26.1 years, participated. Universally, these women felt that the information they learned from the brochure was useful. Suggestions by participants regarding prevention of VVF included laboring in a hospital (80%), educating other women (30%), and discouraging early marriage (8%). Primary barriers to prevention and treatment included financial restraints (84%) and transportation difficulties (30%). The utilization of a simple, low-cost educational brochure has the ability to educate women on the causes, treatment, and prevention of VVF.