MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES OF GENITOURINARY FISTULA: A FOCUS ON DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression among women having genitourinary istula presenting at tertiary care hospital Hyderabad. Study Design: cross sectional study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan from May 2017 to January 2018. Material and methods: 85 women having genitourinary istula were selected. Details of patient was recorded on predesigned proforma, information was gathered. The PHQ-9 patient depression questionnaire was administered at the time of admission to the hospital. Results: The average age was 35.68 ± 7.48 years. The prevalence of depression among women having genitourinary istula was 40% (34/85) cases. Rate of depression was signi icantly high in women with grand multiparty, obstetric labor and in women who had history of pervious pelvic surgery. Conclusion: Prevalence of depression and severity were observed to be high among patients having genitourinary istula presenting at tertiary care hospital Hyderabad. There is a need for better obstetric facilities, emotional support and reintegrating patients back into society after their physical health has been restored, as well as taking steps to educate the public about the problem by holding awareness programmers and encouraging people to seek medical help early in the disease's course, will aid in the restoration of these patients' general health.