Removing barriers to fistula care: Applying appreciative inquiry to improve access to screening and treatment in Nigeria and Uganda

Authors

Vandana Tripathi
Elly Arnoff
Pooja Sripad, Population Council

Document Type

Article (peer-reviewed)

Publication Date

7-1-2020

Abstract

A research-to-action collaboration sought to understand and respond to barriers to female genital fistula treatment in Nigeria and Uganda. This was guided by appreciative inquiry, a participatory approach for transformative programing with four phases: (1) inquire, (2) imagine, (3) innovate, and (4) implement. Through this process, partners designed and refined a treatment barrier reduction intervention using multiple communication channels to disseminate a consistent fistula screening algorithm and provide transportation vouchers to those screening positive. Partnership between an implementation organization, a research institution, and local community partners enabled data-driven design and patient-centered implementation to address specific barriers experienced by women.

Recommended Citation

Tripathi, Vandana, Elly Arnoff, and Pooja Sripad. 2020. "Removing barriers to fistula care: Applying appreciative inquiry to improve access to screening and treatment in Nigeria and Uganda," Health Care for Women International 41(5): 584–599.

DOI

10.1080/07399332.2019.1638924

Language

English

Project

Reducing Barriers to Fistula Care