Bridging the Gap: Investigating the Role of Social Workers in Supporting Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients in Nigeria

Experiential Narratives of Factors Limiting and Boosting Access to Support Services for Women with Obstetric Fistula in Southeast Nigeria

PURPOSE

Obstetric fistula is a chronic health condition that leaves affected women battered and traumatized, thereby exposing them to social recluse life as a result of associated discomfort and odor. Support services to those with challenging health conditions are reputed to help cushion the adverse effects on them; thus women with fistula and other chronic diseases receiving adequate support will help them to cope and recuperate from such illnesses. This study explores the factors limiting and boosting access to support services for those with obstetric fistulainNigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Focus Group Discussions and In-depth Interviews were employed to obtain data from 44 participants. The thematic data analysis method was deployed in analyzing the data collected.

RESULTS

Factors like the limited number of fistula specialist doctors, poor funding, withdrawal from seeking help, long distance, and discrimination limit patients' access to support services and adequate fistula care. The study highlighted that community involvement in fistula care, adequate funding, training, and retraining of professionals will boost support services for fistula patients.

CONCLUSION

The study recommends the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of obstetric fistula patients including the involvement of not only medical personnel but also social workers, families, groups, and community leaders.

Obstetric Fistula: Connecting the Interface between Social Work and Social Support Services for the Management and Reintegration of Victims in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Obstetric fistula is a chronic health condition that leaves affected women medically, socially, physically, and psychologically battered and traumatized. Those with the health condition live their lives as a social recluse because of the unpleasant smell the disease produces in them thereby making people avoid them. Adequate social support to those affected by the disease from all quarters has helped in the management and prevention of the health condition. This study, therefore, aims at exploring and connecting the link between social work and social support in the management of obstetric fistula in Nigeria and the reintegration of survivors into the society. The study adopted a qualitative approach using interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from 51 participants, and the data were thematically analyzed. The results of the study highlighted the potential roles of social workers in enhancing social support for the management and reintegration of victims of obstetric fistula in Nigeria. The findings also revealed challenges confronting social workers in enhancing social support in fistula victims. Findings from the study have implication for policy development, hence, the full involvement and expansion of the coverage of social workers in maternal and public health is recommended.