Psychosocial effects of fistula on adolescent girls: implications on their education and the role of guiding and counselling

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial effects of fistula on the education of adolescent girls affected with fistula and the role of guidance and counseling. The main objective of this study was to investigate the psychosocial stressors of fistula among adolescent girls in learning institutions in order to establish how their education is affected by fistula and the role of guidance and counseling in helping them to adjust in school. This study was guided by self-determination theory. It adopted the qualitative approach and phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was used to select adolescent girls who have suffered from fistula. The target population included adolescent girls in learning institutions with their ages ranging from thirteen to twenty three years old. Data was analyzed by use of thematic and content analysis. A biographical form was used to obtain personal data from the adolescent girls affected with fistula. Fifteen adolescent girls were interviewed. Majority of fistulas resulted from obstructed labor. Most of the participants were in primary school when they developed fistula which led to them dropping out of school. The adolescent girls were out of school for at least a year before they were facilitated to resume school. The study found out that psychosocial stressors such as loneliness, resentment, and isolation among others affected the education of the adolescent girls. Guidance and counseling is an important service in reintegrating the adolescent girls back to school and creating their self-esteem. The study recommends addressing teenage pregnancy to prevent occurrence of fistulas among adolescents. It also recommends empowering the adolescent girls who have been affected with fistula through education so as to reduce the stigma associated with fistula.