Socio-Cultural Practices Harmful on Female Reproductive Health: A Case Against Female Genital Mutilation

Cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, early child marriages and patriarchy have been on the rise in West Pokot despite interventions by government and non-state actors over the years. These outdated cultural practices have hindered the progress of girls academically. It is vital to educate the girl-child in society. However, teenage pregnancy gets girls at the wrong time when they are still in schools and this affects their education very much and eventually ends up ruining their future. This paper looks at how various cultural practices have affected girl child education in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study was conducted in Central Pokot Sub County primary schools targeting 12 headteachers and 120 teachers. The respondents were selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Data collected were analysed using percentages and frequencies. The results of the study showed that the status of girl-child education was low. Cultural factors like; early marriages, female genital mutilation, child labour, widowhood practices and taboos influenced girl-child education. The study found out those cultural factors in the study area affected girl-child education negatively as it slowed down their transition, academic performance and also the acquisition of knowledge required at the basic education level. The study recommends that the government should take legal action against parents who take their girl-children for FGM and early marriages; there is a need for awareness on the importance of girl child education, provision of scholarships for girls at basic and tertiary level and introduction of guidance and counselling sessions in schools.

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Impacts of Female Genital Mutilation on Women's Reproductive Health

Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education ◽

10.4172/2161-0711.1000137 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 02 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Khaled Kasim

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Female Genital Mutilation ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

Women’S Reproductive Health ◽

Women's Reproductive Health ◽

Female Genital

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Reproductive health

Oxford Handbook of Humanitarian Medicine ◽

10.1093/med/9780199565276.003.0041 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 713-740

Author(s):

Marianne Stephen

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Female Genital Mutilation ◽

Uterine Bleeding ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

Cultural Considerations ◽

Clinical Presentations ◽

Syndromic Approach ◽

Female Genital

This chapter provides the fundamental principles of care in reproductive health, taking into account important cultural considerations in humanitarian settings. It provides a syndromic approach to sexually transmitted infections and detailed guidance on contraception and clinical presentations such as dysfunctional uterine bleeding, female genital mutilation, and fistulas.

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Socio-cultural Practices and Medical Negligence of Female Genital Mutilation

International Journal of Contemporary Microbiology ◽

10.5958/2395-1796.2017.00007.2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 28

Author(s):

Sartaj Ahmad ◽

Chhavi Kiran Gupta ◽

Arvind Kumar Shukla ◽

Bhawana Pant ◽

Varsha Chaudhary

Keyword(s):

Female Genital Mutilation ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Medical Negligence ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

Female Genital

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Demographic Predictors of Cultural Practices Regarding Female Genital Mutilation among Married Women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2021/v33i830882 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-31

Author(s):

Lois N. Omaka-Amari ◽

Edith N. Obande-Ogbuinya ◽

Christian O. Aleke ◽

Afoke N. Eunice ◽

Jude N. Nwafor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Female Genital Mutilation ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Religious Affiliation ◽

Cultural Practice ◽

Married Women ◽

P Value ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Genital Mutilation ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Female Genital

Background: Peoples’ life and quality of health are usually dependent on the cultural practices and norms of the community. Objectives: This study investigated Female Genital Mutilation Practices and Associated Factors among Married Women in the Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Methods: The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted from August 2019 to January 2020. Out of 260 questionnaires distributed, only 7 copies were discarded and a total of 253 women were drawn for the study through multi-stage sampling technique. Frequency, percentage, and logistics regression were the statistical tools used for data analysis. Results: The majority of the participants: aged 25-34 years (37.9%); Christians (76.3%); urban dwellers (50.2%); had tertiary education (36.4%); had 3-4 children (32.0%); and were in business (29.2%) respectively. The cultural practices regarding FGM among married women in Ebonyi State were high (60.5%). Also, the majority of the participants (67.7%) were circumcised. Age by birth, religious affiliation, location, level of education, number of children, and occupation were predictors of the cultural practice of FGM with obvious variations. There is no significant difference existed with respect to religious affiliation, level of education, number of children, and occupation (P-value>0.05) while the difference was observed on the age by birth and location (P-value<0.05). Conclusion: The high cultural practice of FGM is influenced by certain demographic predictors. Thus, there is a need for the Ebonyi State government in collaboration with other health agencies to adopt effective interventions, public health enlightenment, and mass education focusing on the negative consequences of FGM practices.

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