|
|
Half
a million women world-wide die every year from complications
of pregnancy and childbirth - nearly one a minute. The greatest
risk is to women in East and West Africa. Of all the statistics
monitored by the World Health Organisation, this shows the greatest
discrepancy between developed and developing countries.
The risk of a woman dying as a result of childbirth
in Sierra Leone is 1 in 7, compared to less than 1 in 10,000
in the UK. Most men have two or three wives and infant and childhood
mortality is high (170/1000), so there is every reason for a
woman to want to have children to replace those who have been
lost, as well as to prove herself a worthy wife. There is little
incentive to use contraception. Female circumcision is normal,
and many girls become pregnant before their skeleton has fully
matured. The majority deliver at home, as hospital may be difficult
to reach, the care is expensive, and most people only go there
to die. There are four or five trained midwives for the whole
district, one of whom works outside Kambia town. The majority
of births are attended by traditional birth
attendants, most of whom are illiterate, and, as their name
implies, rely heavily on tradition. Even if a complication is
recognised in time, there may still be a problem of arranging
transport to the hospital, and making sure there is someone
there who can deal with the problem.
Even if a woman is fortunate enough not to
die from haemorrhage during childbirth, she may develop a hole
between her bladder and her vagina as a result of prolonged
labour. This condition (vesico-vaginal
fistula) is virtually
unheard of in the U.K. As result of it, she will leak urine
constantly, and is frequently rejected by her husband and family
and forced to live on her own.
Natural childbirth in Sierra Leone is a very
risky business! The situation is not dissimilar from the one
we were in before blood transfusion and antibiotics became the
norm in the U.K
 |
Message from Sister Fullah, Kambia District:
|
The response to the film is one of joy and resentment to the outcome of the other pregnant woman. They were also happy to know that the cast are from Kambia district. The plan now is for the new MSF clinic nurse to come and she will take the film to all their centres. The film was played at the new maternity home in Kambia and Yaliboya and Rokai Islands.
April 2005 |
|
| In March 2007, 'Belleh Woman:
Go de Right Side!' was evaluated by Dr Ellie Gooding of
the University of Sierra Leone, and her Diploma of
Public Health Students, thanks to the support of Dr
Alison Weightman of the Cardiff
University Duthie Library. They were very impressed,
and another public health physician in Sierra Leone
thought it was excellent. They have requested further
copies of the DVD. |
Further information:
Vesico-vaginal
fistula
Traditional birth
attendants
Training of Maternal and Child Health Aides
Interviews
with people from Kambia (November 2005)
Visit to Kambia by midwives from Cheltenham
The Silent Sufferers [More] |
