Table 1 Characteristics of included studies reporting on implemented fistula prevention interventions

Bacon

sub-Saharan Africa

Improving access to adequate medical care; Health education programs

All three phases

Banke-Thomas et al.

sub-Saharan Africa

Community and Facility based interventions

All three phases

Fistula care^a

Guinea (Kissidougou)

Village safe motherhood committees; Financial partnerships; Maternal waiting homes; and Market Towns and Local Resource Mobilisation project

All three phases

Fistula care (a)^a

Sierra Leone

Aberdeen’s Women’s Centre: counselling, family planning, and a maternity care unit for pregnancy care, labour and delivery, and postpartum recovery (services to prevent fistulas)

All three phases

Fistula care (b)^a

sub-Saharan Africa

Partograph

Phase 3: Receiving adequate care

Fistula care^a

Uganda

Partograph

Phase 3: Receiving adequate care

Gerten et al.

Nigeria

Patient educational brochure at a vesicovaginal hospital

Phase 1: Decision to seek care

Levin and Kabagema

sub-Saharan Africa

Partograph

Phase 3: Receiving adequate care

Markos and Bogale

Ethiopia (Bale zone)

Partograph

Phase 3: Receiving adequate care

Miller et al.

sub-Saharan Africa

Fistula prevention centres; Community-based preventions; Maternal waiting homes; and Training course about screening for risk of fistula

All three phases

Nathan et al.

West Africa

Femme pour Femme, community healthcare insurance plan

All three phases

Ngoma

Zambia

EmOC and Safe Motherhood Actions Groups (SMAGs); and Income generating activities (IGA)

All three phases

Ojanuga

Nigeria

Community health education programs; organizing transport for pregnant women in need; and training traditional birth attendants

All three phases

Ojanuga

Nigeria

Health education programs

Phase 1: Decision to seek care

Seim et al.

Niger

Community-mobilization program that arrange transport for women who experience complicated labours

All three phases

Tahzib

Nigeria

Safe motherhood initiatives not specified but aimed at encouraging hospital deliveries, and the improvement of the perception of facilities by women seeking help

All three phases

Turan et al.

Eritrea

Transport of women to healthcare facilities

Phase 2: Accessibility of care

UNFPA

sub-Saharan Africa

Global midwifery program; All-terrain motorbikes (Women and Health Alliance International)

Phase 2: Accessibility of care;

Phase 3: Receiving adequate care