Table 1 Characteristics of study participants

Age

 <20

1 (5 %)

 20–29

5 (25 %)

 30–39

8 (40 %)

 40–49

1 (5 %)

 ≥50

4 (20 %)

 Don’t know

1 (5 %)

District

 Kasungu

2 (10 %)

 Ntcheu

1 (5 %)

 Nkhotakota

4 (20 %)

 Dowa

6 (30 %)

 Mchinji

1 (5 %)

 Dedza

1 (5 %)

 Lilongwe

5 (25 %)

Religion

 Protestant

1 (5 %)

 Catholic

7 (35 %)

 Muslim

1 (5 %)

 Other

11 (55 %)

Education

 Never attended school

6 (30 %)

 Some primary school

12 (60 %)

 Finished primary school or more

2 (10 %)

Occupation

 Farmer

9 (45 %)

 Housewife/Caretaker

1 (5 %)

 Business owner

7 (35 %)

 House worker

1 (5 %)

 No occupation

2 (10 %)

Relationship status

 Married

11 (55 %)

 Single

2 (10 %)

 In a relationship but not married

1 (5 %)

 Married but separated

3 (15 %)

 Divorced

2 (10 %)

 Widowed

1 (5 %)

Number of living children

 0

9 (45 %)

 1

3 (15 %)

 2

3 (15 %)

 3

2 (10 %)

 4

2 (10 %)

 5

1 (5 %)

Age when fistula developed

 <15

1 (5 %)

 15–19

8 (40 %)

 20–24

4 (20 %)

 25–29

4 (20 %)

 30–34

1 (5 %)

 Don’t know

2 (10 %)

Residual urinary incontinence

 Cured, no incontinence

11 (55 %)

 Incontinence with cough, strain or exertion

1 (5 %)

 Incontinent on walking

4 (20 %)

 Incontinent on walking, sitting, and/or lying but still voiding some urine

2 (10 %)

 Incontinent on walking, sitting, and/or lying but not voiding any urine

2 (10 %)