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Obstetric Fistula Policy in Nigeria: A Critical Discourse Analysis
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- Author / Creator
- Amodu,Oluwakemi C
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Obstetric fistula continues to affect women in Nigeria in spite of the existence of a policy to eliminate obstetric fistula in Nigeria. First I discussed the socio-cultural issues related to obstetric in Northern Nigeria. I used a critical discourse analysis to explore the obstetric fistula (OF) policy in Nigeria and broader social policies and constitutional law on which the policy was based. Findings of the analysis revealed that the OF policy did not capture the full reality of the constitutional environment in Nigeria as it contradicts with the agenda to end OF. The policy semantic was medicalized with significant silence on the role of other stakeholders in health, such as midwives, in the agenda for ending obstetric fistula. The policy was focused on reduction rather elimination. There was significant victim stereotyping of women with a behaviour change strategy fashioned after parent Safe Motherhood strategies. For there to be a head way in the agenda to end OF, social policies related to reproductive health and rights of girls must be made to align with the agenda to eliminate obstetric fistula. In particular, the Marriage act and the Matrimonial Causes Act of Nigeria needs to establish appropriate age of consent for marriage to protect minors from forced marriages at national and sub-national level. As long as child marriages exist, a policy to eliminate obstetric fistula cannot be realized. Also, midwifery services need to be expanded all over Africa to have more women deliver their babies safely.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2016
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Nursing
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.