The perceived influence of intervention programmes in promoting health-seeking behaviour among vesicovaginal fistula women: A qualitative study in North-West Nigeria

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a childbirth related disease that disturbs millions of women in developing societies, including Nigeria. In recent times, in its bid to influence VVF women's health-seeking behaviour, the government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health put into operation numerous intervention programmes (IVPs). Nonetheless, despite the government's preceding determination to eradicate VVF disease, the number of afflicted women who participated in IVPs is discouraging. Previous researches were not able to explore verbatim the perceived influence of most relevant IVPs in promoting health-seeking behaviour among VVF women in Nigeria. Therefore, this qualitative descriptive study's objective is to explore the perceptions of the study’s participants regarding the most relevant IVPs that encourage VVF women to seek treatment in northwest Nigeria.This study used descriptive design and Nvivo qualitative research software v11. A total of nine participants were selected through a purposive sampling technique. The findings of this study indicated that a theme, sub-themes, and sub-sub themes emerged resulting from the data analysis. The primary study theme that emerged was IVPs, followed by two sub-themes, namely, rehabilitation and campaign. Also, three sub-sub themes emerged under rehabilitation, namely, surgical intervention, skills acquisition, and counselling. Also, two sub-sub themes emerged under the campaign. The finding of this study shows that the majority of the participants (RES I, II, V, VII, VIII, & IX) agree rehabilitation programmes are the most relevant IVPs that influenced health seeing-behaviour among VVF women in the northwest, Nigeria. As against the least participants (RES VI, IV & III) who perceived campaign programmes. Thus, this study recommends the enforcement of appropriate laws and policies concerning the utilisation of motherly and child health facilities; offenders should be sanctioned appropriately. Moreover, the study recommends that the federal, state, and local governments should increase funding in health sectors to improve the much-needed IVPs and other social services. Finally, the study recommends that politicians and health managers focus on improving the rehabilitation programme’s components, such as free surgical operations, skills acquisition, and counselling