ABSTRACT
Background. This study describes the demographics and clinical characteristics of women with obstetric fistulas attending the urogynaecological unit at King Edward VIII Hospital (KEH); KwaZulu-Natal (KZN); South Africa. Method. A prospective clinical review of all women admitted with the diagnosis of an obstetric fistula at KEH from 1999 to 2003. Results. A total of 41 cases from the rural areas of KZN and the Eastern Cape were identified. The mean age was 29 years (range 15 - 51 years); and 21 were primi- gravidas; 14 of whom had unplanned pregnancies. All were from low socioeconomic backgrounds and had limited or no access to antenatal care; either due to their social cir- cumstances or to lack of health care facilities. The duration of labour was prolonged in all; there were 5 live births; and 2 neonatal deaths. Conclusion. Obstetric fistulas are still common in KZN and the Eastern Cape; and occur mainly in women from rural areas