scholarly journals Female adolescents and the future of female genital mutilation/cutting: a report from an endemic area

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1808-16
Author(s):  
Grace G Ezeoke ◽  
Abiodun S Adeniran ◽  
Kikelomo T Adesina ◽  
Adegboyega A Fawole ◽  
Munirdeen A Ijaiya ◽  
...  

Background: Despite collaborative efforts aimed at its eradication, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) continuesin endemic areas. Objective: To evaluate the experience and preparedness of female adolescents to protect their future daughters from FGM/C. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving adolescent secondary school girls in North Central Nigeria. Participants were secondary school students who completed the study’s self-administered questionnaire after informed parental or participant’s consent. Data management was with SPSS 20.0 (IBM, USA), P-value <0.05 was significant. Results: There were 2000 participants aged 13-19 years (mean 15.56±1.75), prevalence of FGM/C was 35.0%, awareness was 86.1%, mutilation was performed between infancy and eight years of age (mean 3.85±3.24 years), 644(32.2%) desire to mutilatetheir future daughters, 722(36.1%) expressed support for FGM/C and 63.1% of victims of FM/C reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. Support for FGM/C was associated with low social class (P0.0010), opinion that FGM/C has benefit (P0.001) and desire to mutilate future daughters (P0.001) while awareness of efforts to eradicate FMG/C was 813(40.7%). Conclusion: FGM/C remains prevalent with potential support for its continuation among female adolescents despite reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. The multi-pronged approach to eradicate FGM/C should prioritize re-orientation for adolescent girls, rehabilitation of mutilated girls and girl child formal education. Keywords: Female genital mutilation/cutting; female circumcision, harmful traditional practices, adverse childhood experiences.

Author(s):  
Awoere T Chinawa ◽  
Josephat M Chinawa ◽  
Edmund N Ossai ◽  
Ann E Aronu ◽  
Godwin E Ozokoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health menace and it study among adolescents is not exhaustive. Objectives The aim is to study the prevalence, pattern, cultural values, health implications and consequences of FGM among adolescent females attending secondary schools in Enugu metropolis. Methods A descriptive study involving female adolescents aged 13–21 years recruited by multistage sampling in three Girls Secondary Schools in Enugu Metropolis. Results Four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires were distributed and four hundred and fourteen (414) were retrieved. The parents with moderate value for culture and tradition had the highest circumcised respondents (7.8%) (p = 0.056). Majority of the respondents, 93.7% were aware of female circumcision. The major complications of female circumcision according to the respondents were painful urination and menstrual problems. The prevalence of female circumcision among the respondents was 9.4%. A minor proportion of the respondents, 5.8% were of the opinion that all females should be circumcised. Respondents whose fathers attained tertiary education were three times less likely to be circumcised when compared with those whose fathers attained secondary education and less (adjusted odds ratio  = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.3–1.5). Conclusion Prevalence of FGM among adolescents aged 13–21 years in Enugu metropolis was 9.4%. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of FGM, and major complications noted were painful urination and menstrual problems. Fathers education level is a very strong reason for this high awareness of FGM among female adolescents.


2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Zurynski ◽  
Amy Phu ◽  
Premala Sureshkumar ◽  
Sarah Cherian ◽  
Marie Deverell ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe WHO reports that female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is an ancient cultural practice prevalent in many countries. FGM/C has been reported among women resident in Australia. Our paper provides the first description of FGM/C in Australian children.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted in April–June 2014.SettingPaediatricians and other child health specialists recruited through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit were asked to report children aged <18 years with FGM/C seen in the last 5 years, and to provide data for demographics, FGM/C type, complications and referral for each case.ParticipantsOf 1311 eligible paediatricians/child health specialists, 1003 (76.5%) responded.ResultsTwenty-three (2.3%) respondents had seen 59 children with FGM/C and provided detailed data for 31. Most (89.7%) were identified during refugee screening and were born in Africa. Three (10.3%) were born in Australia: two had FGM/C in Australia and one in Indonesia. All parents were born overseas, mainly Africa (98.1%). Ten children had WHO FGM/C type I, five type II, five type III and six type IV. Complications in eight children included recurrent genitourinary infections, menstrual, sexual, fertility and psychological problems. Nineteen children (82.6%) were referred to obstetrics/gynaecology: 16 (69.9%) to social work and 13 (56.5%) to child protection.ConclusionsThis study confirms that FGM/C is seen in paediatric clinical practice within Australia. Paediatricians need cultural awareness, education and resources to help them identify children with FGM/C and/or at risk of FGM/C, to enable appropriate referral and counselling of children, families and communities to assist in the prevention of this practice.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Khidir Mustafa Elnimeiri ◽  
Reem Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelbasit ◽  
Mohanad Kamaleldin Mahmoud Ibrahim ◽  
Dimetry Adel Dimetry Mingaryous ◽  
Taqwa Mohieldeen Hamid Abdelrahim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M) is deeply rooted and widely practiced in Sudan. Although the trend is slowly decreasing, the magnitude is still very high as the procedure has no known benefit but has many consequences. The aim of this study was to identify the causes and the risk factors associated with FGC/M among reproductive-age women in the country.Methods: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 902 women in the reproductive age (15-49) years in Khartoum State-Sudan, sampled proportionate to size using multistage clustering and participants were drawn using systematic probability sampling technique. Data were collected using a standardized administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among 902 women who participated in the study, 89% of were married and 48% of them got married for the first time at age less than 20 years. The commonest age for such practice was 6-7 years as stated by about 48% of them. There is a significant association between educational level of participants and practicing FGC/M among their daughters (P value=.0001) with a tendency of the participants who attained a higher educational levels to less subject their daughters to any form of FGC/M. There is a significant association between the type of FGC/M of participants and the type of FGC/M of their daughters (P value=.001) with a tendency of the participants’ daughters to be subjected to clitorectomy rather than pharaonic. 39% of the participants stated that they themselves influenced the decision to subject their daughters to FGC/M while 32% of them stated that the grandmothers influence such a decision. The study revealed 45% of the participants believed in customs and traditions as the main reason for the conduct of FGC/M.Conclusion: The FGC/M was widely practiced by the participants’ families indicating the deeply rooted practice as a social norm. Parental education is inversely associated with practicing FGC/M to their daughters. The socio-cultural reason was the main cause of practicing FGC/M among participants. Therefore, a significant change in factors such as education, and social development might cause a gradual decline in FGC/M.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-152
Author(s):  
AWOLEKE Adeola Olabisi ◽  
AWOLEKE Jacob Olumuyiwa ◽  
IBRAHIM Blessing Saidat

Despite efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation and cutting, the harmful practice has persisted in southwest Nigeria. There is an urgent need for accurate data highlighting predictors of the practice so that interventions to eliminate it can be effective. A population-based, cross-sectional survey of women in Ado – Ekiti Local Government Area was conducted to address this need. FGM/C prevalence was 67.2%, and 94% of the women interviewed were aware of the practice. Although most, 142 (39.3%), of the women heard of FGM/C from healthcare personnel, half, 181 (50.1%), of the respondents noted that healthcare providers performed the FGM/C in the community. Young and middle-aged women, of Yoruba extraction who were married, and multiparous, were significantly more likely to have undergone FGM/C. Also, the likelihood of having experienced FGM/C was more among women who were presently employed (irrespective of the class of occupation), had female children, and with a poor perception about FGM/C. After including characteristics with p < 0.05 into multivariate logistic regression model with practice of FGM/C as the dependent variable, perception about FGM/C (AOR: 0.42; 95% C.I.: 0.24 – 0.72; p = 0.002), employment as a skilled worker (AOR: 0.30; 95% C.I.: 0.13 – 0.69; p = 0.005) and being of Yoruba (AOR: 0.07; 95% C.I.: 0.02 – 0.25; p < 0.0001) and Igbo extraction (AOR: 0.15; 95% C.I.: 0.02 – 0.93; p = 0.042), were independently associated with the experience of FGM/C in the study population. Scaling up media involvement and inclusion of FGM/C facts in school texts and curricula, legal sanctions for erring healthcare workers, female re-orientation to correct wrong perception about FGM/C’s supposed benefits, and accurate data for targeted public health interventions are recommended. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2019, 5(2): 146-152


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Abdul Rauf Alhassan ◽  
John Nyaaba Anyinzaam-Adolipore

Background. Each year, not less than three million women are circumcised, and more hundred million females have already been circumcised. In many African societies, the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a serious cultural practice. Aim: This current study is aimed at identifying the socioeconomic predictors of female genital mutilation in Ghana. Methods. The design adopted for this study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey relying on data from the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017/18. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for associations. Results. Overall FGM prevalence, this study recorded was 11.7%. The region with the highest (50.5%) prevalence was the Upper West Region. Area of residence predicted rural ( AOR = 2.30 ,   95 % C . I . = 1.75 – 3.00 ) Upper West/western Region ( AOR = 1.84 , 95 % C . I . = 1.23 – 2.75 ). In terms of ethnicity, the tribes that predicted FGM when compared with the Akan tribe were Guan ( AOR = 8.91 , 95 % C . I . = 3.53 – 22.51 ), Gruma ( AOR = 6.45 , 95 % C . I . = 2.91 – 14.31 ), Mole-Dagbani ( AOR = 38.10 , 95 % C . I . = 21.20 – 68.49 ), Grusi ( AOR = 45.30 , 95 % C . I . = 24.47 − 83.49 ), Mande ( AOR = 68.58 , 95 % C . I . = 30.85 − 152.42 ), and other tribes ( AOR = 29.33 , 95 % C . I . = 16.11 – 53.39 ). Women in the richest/poorest wealth index quintile ( AOR = 1.80 , 95 % C . I . = 1.19 – 2.72 ). Conclusion. The study prevalence of FGM is still high in the northern part of Ghana, and the predicted factors were residence region, ethnicity, educational level, and economic status.


Author(s):  
Abo Bakr A. Mitwaly ◽  
Diaa Eldeen Mohamed Abd El Aal ◽  
Peter A. Aziz ◽  
Ahmed I. Hassanin ◽  
Ahmed M. Abbas

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) was defined as the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons The Demographic and Health Survey in Egypt in 2000 showed that 97% of married women included in the survey had experienced female genital mutilation.Methods: This is a cross sectional study to evaluate the current prevalence of FGM, current attitude of our society towards it after illegalization of it as a cross sectional survey of Upper Egypt. The most important point in this study is our evaluation of intention of these women whom exposed to FGM toward mutilation of their daughters or not and reasons for that. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 21.Results: The study included 1175 women, from whom 89.1% were circumcised. Type 1 FGM was the most prevalent type practiced in about 58% of participants. Immediate complications occurred in 42.5% of women. Primary hemorrhage during circumcision was the most commonly reported immediate complication among 38.5% of them. Sexual problems were found in 40.5% of participants. Sixty-four women reported occurrence of hepatitis virus infection after the procedure. Moreover, 44 women were suffered from infertility and 72 women had an episode or chronic PID. Women who intend to circumcise their daughters are mostly those coming from rural areas (p=0.000) and housewives (p=0.000). Most of women (45.8%) who have the intent to circumcise their daughters claiming that it is religious based.Conclusions: The prevalence of FGM did not differ between urban and rural or between house wives and employee, lastly did not differ between different educational levels as most of them were encourage it thinking that it is of traditional, religious base and protect the girl from any abnormal sexual excitation. The women who intent not circumcise their daughters were from low educational level in its highest percentage and this was explained by occurrence of higher percentage of complications in spite of the highest percentage of operator was physician.


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.


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