FEMALE GENITAL

MUTILATION
ALL SAINTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
KEHINDE O. AKINMADE
 Introduction
• There are issues happening around us that many do not see. There are those
that trend on the social media but no strategies have been put in place to
solve them. Issues come and go, ones that catch the eyes of the nations are
those that are being affected by every single one of us. What about those
around the world whose rights have been taken from them, those who do
not have the power any more to make their own decisions like we do.
Female Genital Mutilation. Female Genital Mutilation. Female Genital
Mutilation is a problem that needs to be spoken about and worked on in this
world.
 WHAT IS FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION?
• Female genital mutilation (FGM) is defined by the World Health Organization
(WHO) as all procedures which involve partial or total removal of the external
female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or
any other non-medical reasons.
• It is an unhealthy traditional practice imposed on girls and women worldwide.
FGM is widely recognized as a violation of human rights, which is deeply rooted
in cultural beliefs and perceptions over decades and generations with no easy
task for change.
• Now many will question themselves, among all topics and issues going on in this world,
why should Female Genital Mutilation be considered important?
• Though the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM
remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women alive today living in more than 30
countries have undergone FGM. Its burden is seen in Nigeria, Egypt, Mali, Eritrea, Sudan,
Central African Republic, and northern part of Ghana where it has been an old traditional
and cultural practice of various ethnic groups. The highest prevalence rates are found in
Somalia and Djibouti where FGM is virtually universal.
• Researchers accept that it basically began during the rise of slave exchange when ladies
entered the Arab social orders. Some people believes that the foundations of FGM came
with the arrival of Islam with a connection of Arabs and developed within the different
ethnic groups mainly in sub-Saharan Africa as a sign of puberty rites. They thought about
FGM as a way that guaranteed ladies' virginity and lessens chances of sex or diminishes
female sexual craving.
 Types Of Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation can be undergone in four ways:
• Type I: The practice in type 1 is said to be the least severe form of FGM. It involves the removal of the
prepuce or the hood of the clitoris and all or part of the clitoris. In Nigeria, this usually involves
excision of only a part of the clitoris.
• Type II: In Type II which is also known as “sunna circumcision” is a more severe practice that involves
the removal of the clitoris along with partial or total excision of the labia minora with or without the
labia majora.
• Type III: The stage in Type III is the most severe form of FGM. It involves the removal of the clitoris,
the labia minora, the adjacent medial part of the labia majora and the stitching of the vaginal orifice,
leaving an opening of the size of a pin head to allow menstrual flow or urine. This stage is known as
infibulation.
• Type IV: This involves other unclassified types which includes cutting, pricking, piercing, or incision of
the clitoris, cutting of the vagina, stretching the clitoris, cauterization, introduction of corrosive
substances and herbs in the vagina, and other forms.
 Does Female Genital Mutilation Have Health Benefits?
An estimated rate of over 120 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the
consequences of FGM. In Africa, about 3 million girls are at risk of FGM annually. Despite the
increased international and little national attention, the prevalence of FGM overall has declined
very little. The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
Adverse consequences of FGM are shock from pain and hemorrhage, infection, acute urinary
retention following such trauma, damage to the urethra or anus in the struggle of the victim
during the procedure making the extent of the operation dictated in many cases by chance,
chronic pelvic infection, acquired gynatresia resulting in hematocolpos, vulva adhesions,
dysmenorrhea, retention cysts, and sexual difficulties with anorgasmia.
Prolonged labor, delayed 2nd stage and obstructed labor leading to fistulae formation, increased
perinatal morbidity and mortality have been associated with FGM.
• The mental and psychological agony attached with FGM is deemed the most serious
complication because the problem does not manifest outwardly for help to be offered. The
young girls are in constant fear of the procedure and after the ritual they dreads sex because
of anticipated pain and dreads childbirth because of complications caused by FGM. Such
girls may not complain but end up becoming frigid and withdrawn resulting in marital
disharmony.
• Before we move to ways FGM could be reduced in Nigeria my country, and other countries
let me give you a brief information on the current state in Nigeria regarding FGM
Current Situation Of Female Genital Mutilation In Nigeria
FGM is still deeply entrenched in the Nigerian society where critical decision makers are
grandmothers, mothers, women, opinion leaders, men and age groups. Just imagine living most
of your adult life not being able to make decisions on your own.
FGM is an extreme example of discrimination based on sex. Often used as a way to control
women's sexuality, the practice is closely associated with girls’ marriageability, Mothers chose
to subject their daughters to the practice to protect them from being ostracized, beaten,
shunned, or disgraced.
 Efforts To Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation
It is true that tradition and culture are important aspects of any society in helping to mold
the views and behavioral patterns of the society; however some traditions, cultural beliefs
and practices like FGM are harmful and must be abolished.
1.A multidisciplinary approach is needed to tackle this deep-rooted legendary practice of
FGM.
2. There is a need for legislation in Nigeria (including all countries going through similar
situations) with health education and female freedom in the society.
3. The process of social change in the community with a collective, coordinated
agreement to abandon the practice, “community-led action” is therefore essential. With
improvement in education and social status of women and increased awareness of
complications of FGM, most women who experienced FGM disapprove of the practice
and only very few are prepared to subject their daughters to such harmful procedures, the
more educated, more informed, and more active socially and economically a woman is,
the more she is able to appreciate and understand the hazards of harmful
practices like FGM and sees it as unnecessary procedure and refuses to accept
such harmful practice and refuses to subject her daughter to such an operation.
Conclusion
As we have listened, learnt, seen and felt the emotions of all these young
beautiful women, we need to stand together and fight together. We need to fight
this issue till it becomes known to everyone all over the world that Female
Genital Mutilation is giving so much pain, sufferings and bad health to the
people, its depriving girls and women rights to health, freedom and life. We need
to say “NO” to Female Genital Mutilation.
Thank You
 REFERENCE
• World Health Organization. Sexual and reproductive health. Available from:
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/about_us/en/ [cited 6 May 2014]
• Bell, K. (2005). Genital cutting and Western discourses on sexuality. Medical Anthropology
Quarterly, 19(2), 125-148.
• Pertinent literature on FGM was retrieved from internet services [Google search on FGM in
Nigeria, www.online Nigeria, PubMed of the National Library of Medicine
www.medconsumer. Info/tropics/fgm.htm, BioMed central and African Journal Online
(AJOL) (FGM)] and textbooks, journals, and selected references for proper understanding of
the topic was included in this review.
• Matanda Dennis and Lwanga-Walgwe Esther (2021). A Research Agenda to Strengthen
Evidence Generation and Utilisation to Accelerate the Elimination of Female Genital
Mutilation. UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and Population Council, Kenya.