Originally published in The Guardian
Many women in Asia live with an obstetric fistula, which – because patients leak urine and faeces – can cause embarrassment and exclusion, but is often treatable. It is a condition that affects poor, often young, women who miss out on maternal healthcare and have children before their bodies are ready: Pakistan’s 3,500 known cases each year happen to women living in rural areas and urban slums. Patients and doctors in the three countries share their experiences and knowledge of the condition.
