Journey for a cure

Illness narratives of obstetric fistula survivors in North Central Nigeria

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2250299
AutoresHannah M Degge (0000-0003-3156-9964, Department of Health and Education Coventry University Scarborough UK), Mary Laurenson (Faculty of Health Sciences University of Hull Hull UK), Emeka Wilfred Dumbili (0000-0002-3563-1617, School of Sociology University College Dublin College of Social Sciences and Law Dublin Ireland), Heidi Saxby (0000-0003-1520-3188, Department of Health and Education Coventry University Scarborough UK), Mark Hayter (0000-0002-2537-8355, Faculty of Health and Education Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK)
Ano2024
Volume46
Fascículo3
Páginas437-456
Data de publicação2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13715
PMID37786367
OpenAlexW4387297006
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas88

Obstetric fistula is a life transforming event resulting in embodied biographical disruption. Survivors suffer myriad long-term physical and emotional consequences. This paper is an account of a narrative inquiry, conducted with 15 fistula survivors in North-central, Nigeria, who described how their identities had been transformed by their condition. A narrative therapeutic approach, using Frank's 'chaos, restitution and quest' typology, was used to map their recovery narratives. 'Chaos', described by Frank as the opposite of restitution, dominated, with women losing hope of recovery. Women's shift towards 'restitution' began with treatment, but inadequate health-care access often delayed this process. In their quest narratives, women's life and identify changes enabled them to derive meaning from their experience of obstetric fistula within the context of their own lives. The findings highlight socio-structural factors raising the risk of obstetric fistula, which in turn causes biographical disruption and hampers sufferers' treatment and recovery. Rehabilitation should include income-generating skills to bring succour to survivors, particularly those whose incontinence persists after repairs

Art · Context (archaeology · Embodied cognition · Meaning (existential · Narrative · Political science · Psychotherapist · Repatriation · Restitution · Typology · Anorectal Disease Treatments and Outcomes · Diverticular Disease and Complications · History · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Ureteral procedures and complications