Codes and Frequencies
Description
FSHEARD indicates whether the woman had heard of fistula. Question wording varies across samples. See Comparability.
Comparability — Index
Comparability
Along with universe differences, FSHEARD employs country-specific question wording. In general, the questions refer to a problem related to urine, but not all refer to urine leakage. Some questions refer to obstetric fistula (occurring after childbirth), while others refer to leakage of urine and/or feces without reference to the cause. The term âfistulaâ is sometimes used, while in other cases only the symptoms are described. Researchers should consider how different wording choices would affect response rates across the samples analyzed.
Comparability - Standard DHS
Fistula questions are not included in the standard DHS questionnaire prior to Phase 8, but there was a standard DHS fistula module. This standard wording acknowledges multiple possible causes of fistula and describes the symptoms, as follows:
Prior to DHS Phase 8, the names of variables about fistula are country specific. In Phase 8, the standard variable FI3 is included in the optional module about fistula. The standard question wording refers to âa constant leakage of urine or stool from your vagina during the day and night.â
Comparability — Congo (Democratic Republic) [top]
The 2007 Democratic Republic of the Congo survey asks, âDo you know of an illness called âfistula,â meaning, when a woman has constant leakage of urine or stool?â
Comparability — Ethiopia [top]
The Ethiopia 2005 survey refers to âobstetric fistulaâ and describes the symptoms as occurring âafter childbirth.â Instances of fistula from other causes, such as sexual assault, may be underreported with this wording.
Comparability — Guinea [top]
The Guinea 2012 survey refers to âa constant leakage of urine or stool from her vagina,â without using the term âfistula.â
Comparability — Mali [top]
The 2006 Mali survey asks whether the woman has heard of âan illness called âfistula,â that is to say âthe urine illness.ââ This may be recognized terminology in Mali, but the phrase âthe urine illnessâ might possibly be confused with other conditions, such as urinary tract infections, by women unfamiliar with the term âfistula.â
Comparability — Niger [top]
The 2012 and 2006 Niger surveys ask whether the woman has heard of âan illness called âfistula,â that is to say âthe urine illness.ââ This may be recognized terminology in Niger, but the phrase âthe urine illnessâ might possibly be confused with other conditions, such as urinary tract infections, by women unfamiliar with the term âfistula.â
Comparability — Nigeria [top]
The Nigeria 2008 survey refers to âa constant leakage of urine or stool from her vagina,â without using the term âfistula.â
Comparability — Tanzania [top]
The Tanzania 2010 survey refers to âa constant leakage of urine or stool from her vagina during the day or night,â without using the term âfistula.â
Universe
- Afghanistan 2015: Ever-married women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Benin 2011: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Burkina Faso 2010: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Burkina Faso 2021: Women age 15-49 who have never had fistula.
- Burundi 2016: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Cameroon 2018: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Chad 2014: Women age 15-49, in households not selected for the men's survey, who have not experienced fistula.
- Comoros 2012: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Congo (Democratic Republic) 2007: All women age 15-49.
- Congo Brazzaville 2011: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Cote d'Ivoire 2021: Women age 15-49 who never had fistula.
- Ethiopia 2005: All women age 15-49.
- Ethiopia 2016: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Gambia 2019: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Guinea 2012: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Guinea 2018: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Haiti 2012: Women age 15-49 who never had fistula.
- Kenya 2014: Women age 15-49, in households selected for the long questionnaire, who have not experienced fistula.
- Madagascar 2021: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Malawi 2016: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Mali 2006: All women age 15-49.
- Mali 2012: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Mali 2018: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Mozambique 2022: Women age 15-49 in households selected for the men's survey and who never had fistula.
- Nepal 2022: Women age 15-49 who never had fistula.
- Niger 2006: All women age 15-49.
- Niger 2012: All women age 15-49.
- Nigeria 2008: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Nigeria 2018: Women age 15-49 in households not selected for hemoglobin measurement.
- Senegal 2010: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Senegal 2017: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Senegal 2018: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Senegal 2019: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Senegal 2023: Women age 15-49 who never had fistula.
- Sierra Leone 2013: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Sierra Leone 2019: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Tanzania 2010: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Togo 2013: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Uganda 2016: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
- Yemen 2013: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Zambia 2013: All women age 15-49.
- Zambia 2018: Women age 15-49 who have not experienced fistula.
