Abstract:
Objective: To compare outcomes following surgical repair of genital fistula among
Nigerian women with or without HIV.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all genital fistula repair surgeries
performed at Evangel Vesicovaginal Fistula Center in Jos, Nigeria, between January 1,
2004, and April 30, 2014. Patient characteristics, HIV status, genital fistula characteristics,
and postoperative outcomes were assessed for between-group
variance. The
odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were the primary measures used
for determining the association between HIV status and surgical outcomes.
Results: Of the 3313 surgeries recorded, 201 (6.1%) were performed among patients
with HIV infection. No statistically significant between-group
differences were found
for patient or fistula characteristics. By contrast, failed vesicovaginal failure (VVF) closure
was significantly more common among women infected with HIV than among
their HIV-negative
counterparts (OR 0.629, 95% CI 0.443–0.894). No between-group
differences in failure rates were found for ureterovaginal or rectovaginal fistulas.
Conclusion: Determining HIV status before surgery could aid prediction of outcomes
among Nigerian women undergoing repair of VVF. Further studies are required to
examine factors that might improve outcomes for women with HIV infection.
