scholarly journals The Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation on Psycho-Social Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110018
Author(s):  
Sarah O’Neill ◽  
Christina Pallitto

The health consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM) have been described previously; however, evidence of the social consequences is more intangible. To date, few systematic reviews have addressed the impact of the practice on psycho-social well-being, and there is limited understanding of what these consequences might consist. To complement knowledge on the known health consequences, this article systematically reviewed qualitative evidence of the psycho-social impact of FGM in countries where it is originally practiced (Africa, the Middle East, and Asia) and in countries of the diaspora. Twenty-three qualitative studies describing the psycho-social impact of FGM on women’s lives were selected after screening. This review provides a framework for understanding the less visible ways in which women and girls with FGM experience adverse effects that may affect their sense of identity, their self-esteem, and well-being as well as their participation in society.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alzbeta Binkova ◽  
Marion Uebelhart ◽  
Patrick Dällenbach ◽  
Michel Boulvain ◽  
Angèle Gayet-Ageron ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) concerns over 200 million women and girls worldwide and is associated with obstetric trauma and long-term urogynaecological and psychosexual complications that are often under-investigated and undertreated. The aim of this study was to assess the pelvic floor distress and the impact of pelvic floor and psychosexual symptoms among migrant women with different types of FGM/C. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2016 and January 2019 at the Division of Gynaecology of the Geneva University Hospitals. The participants were interviewed on socio-demographic and background information, underwent a systematic gynaecological examination to assess the presence and type of FGM/C and eventual Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), and completed six validated questionnaires on pelvic floor and psychosexual symptoms (PFDI-20 and PFIQ7 on pelvic floor distress and impact, FISI and WCS on faecal incontinence and constipation, PISQ-IR and FGSIS on sexual function and genital self-image). The participants’ scores were compared with scores of uncut women available from the literature. The association between selected variables and higher scores for distress and impact of pelvic floor symptoms was assessed using univariate and multivariable linear regression models. Results 124 women with a mean age of 31.5 (± 7.5), mostly with a normal BMI, and with no significant POP were included. PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 mean (± SD) scores were of 49.5 (± 52.0) and 40.7 (± 53.6) respectively. In comparison with the available literature, the participants’ scores were lower than those of uncut women with pelvic floor dysfunction but higher than those of uncut women without such disorders. Past violent events other than FGM/C and forced or arranged marriage, age at FGM/C of more than 10, a period of staying in Switzerland of less than 6 months, and nulliparity were significantly associated with higher scores for distress and impact of pelvic floor symptoms, independently of known risk factors such as age, weight, ongoing pregnancy and history of episiotomy. Conclusions Women with various types of FGM/C, without POP, can suffer from pelvic floor symptoms responsible for distress and impact on their daily life. Trial registration. The study protocol was approved by the Swiss Ethics Committee on research involving humans (protocol n°15-224).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Bokaie ◽  
Samaneh Hatefi ◽  
Shahnaz Mojahed ◽  
Nasibeh Roozbeh

Abstract Objectives: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an important public health issue, especially in developing countries and it is still done in some parts of Iran. This study aimed to investigate the effect of FGM on the sexual function of women of reproductive age in Hormozgan province/IRAN.Study design: This study is a descriptive-analytical case-control study that was conducted in 2020 on 209 married women of reproductive age (15-49) in rural areas of Minab and Sirik counties in Hormozgan province/IRAN. Main outcome measures: The reliable and valid questionnaire FSFI for assessing female sexual function in the two groups was used after to obtain informed and voluntary consent from all participants and data with SPSS v: 16 software and with using descriptive/ Analytical statistics tests with a significant level of 0.05 were examined. Results: There is a significant difference between mutilated and non-mutilated women in the total score of sexual function(22.18±3.23 versus 23.41±2.52 respectively, p=0.023) and the domains of lubrication(3.04±0.62 versus 3.3±0.53 respectively, P=0.000), orgasm(3.81±0.63 versus 4.08±0.47 respectively, P=0.003), and sexual satisfaction(5.09±0.1 versus 5.37±0.87 respectively, P=0.017) But in the domains of desire, arousal, and pain in the two groups was no significant difference(P-value>0.05). Conclusion: FGM maybe leads to sexual dysfunction. Although most women were reluctant to perform mutilation on their daughters, more educational Actions are suggested to educate women about the impact of female mutilation on their sexual function. Counseling programs are also recommended to improve the sexual function of mutilated women.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249662
Author(s):  
Samuel Muhula ◽  
Anthony Mveyange ◽  
Samuel Oji Oti ◽  
Martha Bande ◽  
Hellen Kayiaa ◽  
...  

Introduction In Kenya, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is highly prevalent in specific communities such as the Maasai and Somali. With the intention of curtailing FMG/C prevalence in Maasai community, Amref Health Africa, designed and implemented a novel intervention—community-led alternative rite of passage (CLARP) in Kajiado County in Kenya since 2009. The study: a) determined the impact of the CLARP model on FGM/C, child early and forced marriages (CEFM), teenage pregnancies (TP) and years of schooling among girls and b) explored the attitude, perception and practices of community stakeholders towards FGM/C. Methods We utilised a mixed methods approach. A difference-in-difference approach was used to quantify the average impact of the model with Kajiado as the intervention County and Mandera, Marsabit and Wajir as control counties. The approach relied on secondary data analysis of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2003, 2008–2009 and 2014. A qualitative approach involving focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were conducted with various respondents and community stakeholders to document experiences, attitude and practices towards FGM/C. Results The CLARP has contributed to: 1) decline in FGM/C prevalence, CEFM rates and TP rates among girls by 24.2% (p<0.10), 4.9% (p<0.01) and 6.3% (p<0.01) respectively. 2) increase in girls schooling years by 2.5 years (p<0.05). Perceived CLARP benefits to girls included: reduction in teenage marriages and childbirth; increased school retention and completion; teenage pregnancies reduction and decline in FGM/C prevalence. Community stakeholders in Kajiado believe that CLARP has been embraced in the community because of its impacts in the lives of its beneficiaries and their families. Conclusion This study demonstrated that CLARP has been positively received by the Maasai community and has played a significant role in attenuating FGM/C, CEFM and TP in Kajiado, while contributing to increasing girls’ schooling years. CLARP is replicable as it is currently being implemented in Tanzania. We recommend scaling it up for adoption by stakeholders implementing in other counties that practice FGM/C as a rite of passage in Kenya and across other sub Saharan Africa countries.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Kaplan ◽  
Suiberto Hechavarría ◽  
Miguel Martín ◽  
Isabelle Bonhoure

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. e261-e266 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Plugge ◽  
S Adam ◽  
L El Hindi ◽  
J Gitau ◽  
N Shodunke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a global public health issue. Women in the UK are at risk of FGM and its adverse health consequences but little is known about its practice. Since 1985 it has been a criminal offence to perform FGM in the UK and further legislation has tightened the law but FGM continues. Methods Four community researchers from the Kenyan, Nigerian, Somalian and Sudanese communities in Oxford conducted focus groups and interviews with 53 people to understand the communities’ beliefs about how best to prevent FGM. Results Participants believed that the current UK legislation alone was not sufficient to tackle FGM and might in fact be counterproductive by alienating communities through its perceived imposition. They felt that there had been insufficient consultation with affected communities, awareness raising and education about the legislation. Community-led solutions were the most effective way to tackle FGM. Conclusions FGM adversely affects communities globally. In the UK, researchers from affected communities gathered data demonstrating the feasibility and importance of involving communities in FGM prevention work. Further research is needed to understand how best to prevent FGM in affected communities and, very importantly, to examine the impact of the UK legislation relating to FGM.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 232-246
Author(s):  
Darlene Mwende Ndasi ◽  
Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a dangerous practice that predates all religions and perpetrated on children for various reasons in various cultural and global contexts, causing adverse lifelong health consequences including sexual, physical and psychological problems for the survivors. Even so, there appears to be no documented work that brings together the major conceptual blocks on FGM/C, a gap this paper seeks to begin to fill. This paper summarises some major concepts on FGM/C as a resource and evaluates key evidence on the practice. While the practice of FGM/C is highly concentrated in Africa, the practice is spread out globally with a shift towards its medicalization among migrant communities and traditional settings. A focus of this paper is to propagate awareness and polarise debates to bring to an end to the practice of FGM/C globally.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12630
Author(s):  
Rolandas Vitkūnas ◽  
Renata Činčikaitė ◽  
Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene

In the context of accelerating urbanisation, cities must ensure a viable economy, social well-being, and a healthy environment. Transport is one of the key conditions for economic development and meeting the needs of countries, regions, and cities. However, transport must meet not only the physiological but also the social needs of society, one of which is environmental security. Urban transport accounts for around 40% of CO2 emissions and 70% of other pollutants from road transport. Thus, one of the most difficult issues for any city to address when building bypasses is the growing number of cars in the city, traffic congestion, and the reduction of all greenhouse gas emissions. The documents adopted in July 2020 aim to revitalise the EU’s economy by moving towards a green economy and sustainability. In addition to the systematic and comparative analysis of concepts published in the scientific literature, the article also presents an analysis of the concepts of the sustainable city and sustainable transport, as well as a study of the social impact of bypasses and the assessment of the security of the social environment in the Baltic capitals. The aim of the article is to assess the impact of the growing number of vehicles on the security of the city’s social environment. Research results show that the number of pollutants and a direct dependence between the number of pollutants and the driving speed were established. Therefore, it needs to make investments in the transport sector: improving roads, the construction of bypasses, and the technical parameters of purchased cars.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Paixão ◽  
A Carmona ◽  
H Capelão ◽  
E Calé ◽  
A Silva

Abstract Female genital mutilation (FGM) has short and long-term impacts on the health of girls/women. In Portugal, an estimated 5246 women were subjected to it, with 568 of them residing in the city of Amadora, in the metropolitan area of the capital Lisbon. As such, Amadora was considered a priority area for developing strategies to prevent female genital mutilation, under the coordination of the local public health unit. Our aim was to capacitate professionals to recognise and act on risk/danger and on minimising potential health impacts of FGM on the local institutions these girls/women might come into contact with. We created a task force that held meetings with different local actors: hospital, teams at the primary healthcare facility, city hall of Amadora, child protection services, a school, social inclusion projects, representatives of the justice system and a non-governmental organisation. We designed different scenarios for the different needs and entry points of these girls/women in the system and created appropriate procedures for all these actors. Within the primary healthcare facility, we created guidelines specifying criteria for referral to other specialties. This led to the development of a county protocol targeting FGM during the summer of 2019. We trained 160 healthcare professionals. In addition, we created a booklet for schools and held sessions in school groups targeting teachers, psychologists and operational assistants with a focus on risk and danger indicators and on how to proceed. Overall, 360 school professionals received training. During these sessions, we also presented resources on how to integrate FGM in discussions with students regarding gender violence and human rights. This intervention will be evaluated after one year (summer of 2020) through mixed-methods to understand the impact on the practice of the professionals in Amadora. We will conduct interviews and apply questionnaires to capture the implementation of this city-wide protocol. Key messages Given the complexity of FGM a wide societal and multidisciplinary approach should be used with a public health team coordinating the intervention. In Portugal there is a need for an organised and systematic response by professionals regarding FGM; our county-specific protocol aimed to create that response.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1336
Author(s):  
Khadijeh Sarayloo ◽  
Robab Latifnejad Roudsari ◽  
Amy Elhadi

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a general health concern. The World Health Organization has recognized it as a condition that endangers women’s health. This review study aimed to identify the types of health outcomes of FGM. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to create a critical view of the current evidence on the effect of circumcision on girls and women's health. In this study, we focused on the health risks of female circumcision. Academic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, SID, IranMedex, Irandoc, and Magiran were searched with regard to the health consequences of FGM from January 1990 until 2018. Eleven review studies met the criteria and contained 288 relevant studies on the risks of FGM. It was suggested that FGM had various physical, obstetric, sexual, and psychological consequences. Women with FGM experienced mental disturbances (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses, anxiety, somatization, phobia, and low self-esteem) than other women. Our study can provide evidence on improving, changing behaviors, and making decisions on the quality of services offered to women suffering from FGM. [GMJ.2019;inpress:e1336]


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