Healthcare Access as a Risk-Marker for Obstetric Vesicovaginal Fistula in Malawi.

Objectives: To determine the association between access to health care among pregnant women in Malawi and occurrence of obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).

Methods: This was a case-control study using data obtained from patients' records documented by the 'Fistula Care Center-Bwaila Hospital' in Malawi. Socio-demographic characteristics of women with VVF (study arm, n=1046) and perineal tear (control arm, n=37) were examined.