Practice Of Female Genital Mutilation Research Articles

Female Genital Mutilation practiced by Dawoodi Bohras of Pakistan

This paper examines the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among the Dawoodi Bohra community in Pakistan. FGM, a non-therapeutic alteration of the female genitalia, is examined through the lenses of religion, culture and health. The Dawoodi Bohra, predominantly based in Karachi, practice FGM as a religious and cultural rite, linking it to notions of purity and social acceptance. Despite global efforts to outlaw and eradicate FGM, it persists, underpinned by deeply held beliefs and the insular nature of the community. The physical and psychological effects of FGM are profound, leading to immediate and long-term complications such as severe pain, infection and psychological trauma. This paper discusses the impact of these practices on women’s health and rights, while critiquing the lack of an effective legal framework in Pakistan to combat FGM. In addressing this issue, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on gender-based violence and the rights of women and children in patriarchal societies.

Female genital mutilation: trends, economic burden of delay and basis for public health interventions.

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a health and social problem. Millions of girls and women have undergone FGM or will soon, and more information is needed to effectively reduce the practice. The aim of this research is to provide an overview of the FGM trendlines, the inequality of its prevalence, and the economic burden. The findings shed light on 30-year trends and the impact of the pandemic on planned efforts to reduce FGM which helps with public health interventions. Temporal trend analysis, and graphical analysis were used to assess the change and inequality over the last 30 years. We included 27 countries in which FGM is prevalent. We calculated the extra economic burden of delayed interventions to reduce FGM like COVID-19. For the 27 countries analyzed for temporal trendlines, 13 countries showed no change over time while 14 had decreasing trends. Among the 14, nine countries, Uganda, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Chad, and Ethiopia had high year-decrease (CAGR - 1.01 and - 10.26) while five, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Djibouti, and Mali had low year-decrease (CAGR>-1 and < 0). Among these five are the highest FGM prevalence similar distribution regardless the wealth quintiles or residence. There is an economic burden of delay or non-decline of FGM that could be averted. Findings indicate that some countries show a declining trend over time while others not. It can be observed that there is heterogeneity and homogeneity in the FGM prevalence within and between countries which may indicate inequality that deserves further investigation. There is considerable economic burden due to delays in the implementation of interventions to reduce or eliminate FGM. These insights can help in the preparation of public health interventions.

INTERROGATING THE PERSISTENCE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE, 2000-2020

Female genital mutilation is also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision which comprises all procedures involving a partial or total removal of the external female genitalia either for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. FGM is a sensitive topic and issue because it cuts across several cultures and needs to be addressed with great care, without affecting people’s feelings as it touches on other people’s cultures. The practice is, therefore, still deeply entrenched in the Nigerian society. Despite efforts to raise awareness of FGM’s medical complications through governmental and non-governmental organizations, the practice persists in some communities, and this makes one ponder on the factors that seem to preserve the practice. This paper using both primary and secondary sources of historical research methodology assesses the socio-cultural and religious factors that contributed to the continuous practice of female genital mutilation in Ilorin despite the international condemnation. In Nigeria, the South-south (77 percent) has the highest incidence of Female Genital Mutilation among adult women, followed by the South-east (68 percent), and the South-west (65 percent). However, it was only lightly practised in the North, surprisingly leaning toward a more extreme form. At the national level, 41 percent of adult women have had Female Genital Mutilation typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade. There was a significant relationship between the persistence of the practice of FGM and social structures, cultural, and religious beliefs. The study shows that the continuous practice of female genital mutilation in Ilorin is not due to ignorance, but a longstanding tradition and religious belief.

Beyond the surface: unpacking the methodological and ethical challenges of researching into a sensitive female genital mutilation practice

Beyond the surface: unpacking the methodological and ethical challenges of researching into a sensitive female genital mutilation practice

The Role of UK Communities and Leadership in Tackling Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation is the act of removing part or all of a woman's external genitalia, including the act of injuring a woman's genitals without medical reasons. It is estimated that more than 200 million women have undergone Female Genital Mutilation procedures. This is an international problem and concern. The practice of Female Genital Mutilation in England emerged due to the arrival of immigrants who brought this culture. The efforts made by the British government in dealing with Female Genital Mutilation are by enforcing the law in the form of creating anti-Female Genital Mutilation laws and educating the public through campaigns and community empowerment. This research was created to try to see the role of British communities and leadership in dealing with Female Genital Mutilation using comparative feminist political theory and the concept of women's rights. This research will use a qualitative descriptive research methodology. The results of this research are in the form of political policy analysis using four approaches, namely gender; policy; and welfare states, state feminism, policy implementation and making, women's movements. As well as the emergence of obstacles in handling efforts which are influenced by various factors.

Female genital mutilation and safer sex negotiation among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis of demographic and health survey data.

The practice of female genital mutilation is associated with harmful social norms promoting violence against girls and women. Various studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence of female genital mutilation and its associated factors. However, there has been limited studies conducted to assess the association between female genital mutilation and markers of women's autonomy, such as their ability to negotiate for safer sex. In this study, we examined the association between female genital mutilation and women's ability to negotiate for safer sex in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We pooled data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted from 2010 to 2020. Data from a sample of 50,337 currently married and cohabiting women from eleven sub-Saharan African countries were included in the study. A multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between female genital mutilation and women's ability to refuse sex and ask their partners to use condom. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to present the findings of the logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Female genital mutilation was performed on 56.1% of women included in our study. The highest and lowest prevalence of female genital mutilation were found among women from Guinea (96.3%) and Togo (6.9%), respectively. We found that women who had undergone female genital mutilation were less likely to refuse sex from their partners (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.86, 0.96) and ask their partners to use condoms (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.78, 0.86) compared to those who had not undergone female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation hinders women's ability to negotiate for safer sex. It is necessary to implement health education and promotion interventions (e.g., decision making skills) that assist women who have experienced female genital mutilation to negotiate for safer sex. These interventions are crucial to enhance sexual health outcomes for these women. Further, strict enforcement of policies and laws aimed at eradicating the practice of female genital mutilation are encouraged to help contribute to the improvement of women's reproductive health.

Factors Associated with Abandoning the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Guinea: A Secondary Analysis of 2018 Demographic and Health Survey Data

Factors Associated with Abandoning the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Guinea: A Secondary Analysis of 2018 Demographic and Health Survey Data

Foreign Aid and Institutional Quality towards Reducing Gender-Based Violence

Studies have shown a possible link between women achieving some degree of economic independence through empowerment and a decline in gender-based violence (GBV). However, inadequate funding has been a major challenge in developing economies, while foreign aid has been seen as an alternative funding source. Foreign aid for promoting women’s rights and gender equality is improving in African countries. Yet, according to official statistics, the frequency of GBV in Africa is among the highest in the world. Given this, this paper examines the impact of women’s aid and institutional quality on factors that can reduce GBV using both cross-sectional autoregressive lags to investigate short- and long-run implications and the Panel Vector Correction Model to examine the shock effect of aid on other variables. Also, the mediating role of institutional quality and women’s aid are considered. The metrics used for the factors that reduce GBV are female children out of school, the secondary school gender parity index, the genital mutilation prevalence rate, and the metrics for institutional quality are the rules of law and government effectiveness. The implications from the findings show that enhancing the legal structure is very important in Africa, given the low coefficient values to reduce discrimination against the right to education; more should be done to increase the enrolment of female students through the maximisation of women’s aid in order to achieve the short- and long-term objectives of reducing gender violence. The findings also show that the rule of law significantly aids in the reduction of female genital mutilation in the short and long run; government effectiveness is insignificant. Also, they show that women’s aid also reduces female genital mutilation, albeit at a low rate. The results of this study call for strong enhanced government support and funding to end the practice of female genital mutilation and discrimination against female education in the short and long run.

Local Women Groups Preventative Initiatives in Addressing Female Genital Mutilation Practices: A Case for Kajiado South-Sub County, Kenya

Local Women Groups Preventative Initiatives in Addressing Female Genital Mutilation Practices: A Case for Kajiado South-Sub County, Kenya

What's new on female genital mutilation/cutting? Recent findings about urogynecologic complications, psychological issues, and obstetric outcomes.

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C or FGM) are injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Every year, over 4 million girls are at risk of FGM. Complications of this practice are very common and some of them are still under investigation. The purpose of this short narrative review is to highlight and summarize the main ones. Psychologic and psychiatric sequelae, chronic vulvar pain, urogenital symptoms, pelvic organs prolapse, sexual disfunction, cervical dysplasia and infections resulted as chronic sequalae of FGM. Severe pain, excessive bleeding, and tissues swelling are acute consequences of FGM. Rates of caesarean section, time of second stage of delivery, post-partum blood loss (but not major hemorrhage), peri-clitoral and perineal injuries and episiotomy rates are higher in pregnant women with FGM, when compared with those non victims of mutilation. The female genital mutilation practice is often cause of severe urogynecologic, psychologic and obstetrics sequelae. Although several studies have been carried out on FMG complications and treatments, long term sequelae are still very common and deserve major attention and further research.

Indonesian Legal Compliance with International Human Rights Law on Female Genital Mutilation

The absence of a law that strictly prohibits female genital mutilation in Indonesia has increased the number of women and girls victimized by this practice. While some communities may justify female genital mutilation as a religious practice, there is no religious justification for this, and neither is Islam, the dominant religion in Indonesia. The United Nations has defined female genital mutilation as a harmful practice that can cause physical and psychological harm to women and girls. Moreover, it is also closely linked with violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief. This qualitative research uses a normative approach by analyzing Indonesian laws related to female genital mutilation and its compatibility with international human rights legal obligations. This research describes Indonesia's role in preventing, addressing, and protecting women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation. The results show that Indonesian laws on female genital mutilation do not comply with international human rights laws, which prohibit all types of female genital mutilation practices. This research suggests that the Indonesian government should take all measures to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation through legal action, creating binding and gender-perspective regulations and policies. Eliminating female genital mutilation will contribute to achieving gender equality and women's empowerment in Indonesia, as the country's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Re-evaluating the Authenticity of Hadith on the Shariah Ruling of Female Circumcision in Malaysia

Abstract The practice of female circumcision in Malaysia has been heavily criticized for being like the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa. This criticism started from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2018, organized by the United Nations Human Rights (UNHR), which called on Malaysia to stop the practice of female circumcision. Among the accusations made were that the practice of female circumcision was merely a tradition and not a religious requirement. In addition, they denied the authority of the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision, claiming that they were weak and lacked authority. Therefore, this study aims to reassess and re-evaluate the validity and authority of the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision. This study uses a qualitative method, employing historical-textual analysis, to analyze the opinions of hadith scholars regarding the sanad (Transmission) and matan (Text) of the hadith. The results of this study found that the hadith regarding female circumcision has various pathways that can support each other and can be upgraded to hasan li ghayrihi. In conclusion, this study found that the hadith used as evidence for the legitimization of female circumcision is authoritative, thereby affirming that this practice is part of Islamic law.

Factors Linked to Female Genital Mutilation Practice Among Women Living In Alungu Village of Mandera County, Kenya.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice with severe health complications, deeply rooted in many sub-Saharan African countries. In Kenya, the prevalence of FGM/C is 15% in women aged between 15 and 49 years. The Kenyan Somalis practice FGM/C with a prevalence above 90%. FGM/C practice continues to persist in Alungu village, Mandera County in the North Eastern of Kenya despite efforts by anti-FGM programs. However, the underlying factors behind FGM practice in the area have not been explored. Objective: To assess factors contributing to female genital mutilation practice among women living in Alungu village of Mandera County, Kenya. This study utilised a descriptive cross sectional design. The study population was women of reproductive age (from 18 to 49 years) who resided in Alungu village in Mandera County, Kenya. A study sample of 98 women was selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Most of the respondents were aged 35 - 44 (45.8%), married (100%), had no formal education (74.7%) and had no formal employment (89.2%). All participants agreed that traditional beliefs, customs and rite of passage to womanhood contributed to FGM, 90.4% of the participants acknowledged that FGM is a symbol of ethnic identity and inclusivity. Factors affecting prevention of and response to FGM were low involvement of women in anti-FGM programs (91.6%); support for FGM by local leaders and elders (100%); failure by authorities to take action against those perpetuating FGM (100%); indifference to FGM practice continuation among local religious and political leaders (96.4%) and poor enforcement of existing laws against FGM (100%). A wide range of socio-cultural factors did contribute to FGM practice among women living in Alungu village, Mandera County.

A Brief History of Anesthesia in Somaliland.

A Brief History of Anesthesia in Somaliland.

Female Genital Mutilation in Mary Karooro Okurut’s The Switch

This article explores the representations of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mary Karooro Okurut’s The Switch (2016). In this article, I investigate why the fictional communities depicted in the selected novel engage in FGM practice. The key method used to obtain data is a close reading of the primary text. The secondary texts of both print and electronic forms from relevant works were also consulted. The data was collected with the guidance of the research objective. The study involved the examination of documents guided by a textual checklist as the major research instrument. This study adopted the cultural feminist literary theory. In the study, I discover that different communities engage in FGM as a way to regulate their women’s sexual behaviour and as a norm to transform them from childhood to adulthood. The author has tactfully used techniques like diction, setting and description among others to clearly bring out her message

Female Genital Mutilation: A Religio-cultural Sensitive Issue Determining Maternal Healthcare Choices among Somali Women in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya

This paper focuses on Kenya’s development challenges in maternal health care, especially the impact of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and female genital mutilation (FGM) among the refugees. The study identifies four objectives: to discuss the persistence of FGM among Somali women in Ifo Refugee Camp; to establish the hospital process of providing maternal health care to mothers who have gone through FGM; to find out the level of preparedness of the midwives to handle mothers with religio-cultural concerns such as prayer and non-involvement of male nurses; and how the practice of FGM contributes to the preference of TBA by mothers. This study assumes that midwives’ training may not have effectively addressed FGM, a social-cultural sensitive issue affecting childbirth and care. The specific support of midwives in refugee camps contexts also remains limited. A qualitative research approach was used in the study, involving Snowballing sampling method, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs). These methods brought out pertinent issues that make TBAs the preferential option for some mothers despite the presence of level 4 category hospitals in the refugee camps. In case of birth complications, the mother’s choice for TBA delays the family’s decision to take her to the hospital and for healthcare workers to save mother and child. The shortage of midwives and the presence of male midwives in hospitals make some Somali mothers seek assistance from TBAs. There is a need to contextualize midwifery training by enhancing the curriculum with evidence-based/mother-centered skills.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of female genital mutilation and cutting: An observational cross-sectional study in primary care (FGM/C Study).

Female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) describes procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Increasing migration means many communities living in the UK originate from countries where FGM/C is practiced. Consequently, clinicians in the UK are increasingly exposed to women and children who have experienced FGM/C. To explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice of primary care general practitioners and practice nurses about FGM/C. An observational cross-sectional study with general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) working in primary care in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. An online survey was circulated to GPs and PNs between September 2019 and December 2019. 137 survey responses were received. Study participants were predominantly female (81.8%) and general practitioners (59.9%) with a mean age of 47.3 (SD =9.1). 19.7% of responders reported seeing more than one patient with FGM/C in the last 12 months. 91% of responders had received some form of FGM/C training; however the format and frequency of training varied and 34.3% felt they had received inadequate training to manage treatment of FGM/C. Results suggest varying degrees of competence and confidence associated with recognising and managing patients with FGM/C in primary care in the West Midlands. Given that FGM/C patients typically present in primary care it is important that clinicians can provide appropriate support underpinned by up-to-date training.

An Overview of the Knowledge and the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation Among Adult Women in Ondo State, South Western Nigeria

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the very significant health and human right issues in the world according to UNICEF. A qualitative research methodological and in-depth interview of one hundred and twenty informants were used to investigate FGM’s knowledge and practice in Ondo state, southwestern Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants from the study population. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the residents are aware of FGM as it is being widely practiced by traditional birth attendants, an health officials. The study also confirmed that the majority of the respondents are of the opinions that FGM reduces promiscuity, initiates young girls into womanhood; ensures spiritual cleansing; enhances fertility and prevents instant mortality while the majority have inadequate knowledge about the untoward health consequences of the practice. The study concluded that there is high rate of prevalence and poor understanding of the harmful effects of FGM. It is therefore recommended that certain collaborative measures which include aggressive enlightenment programmes. Among the communities, enactment of laws as punitive measures for the practitioners of government policy re-engineering and early education of girl’s children on FGM among others have to be implemented to eliminate the scourge in society.

Prevalence, knowledge, attitude, motivators and intentional practice of female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age: a community-based analytical cross-sectional study in Tanzania

BackgroundTo harmonize and enhance economic growth at the individual, family, community, and national levels, healthy women embody the guardian of family health and a healthy world. They are anticipated to have the freedom to choose their identity in opposition to female genital mutilation in a thoughtful, responsible, and informed manner. Despite restrictive traditions and culture, it is unclear from the available information what exactly would be the drivers of FGM practices in Tanzania from an individual or social perspective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age in terms of its frequency, knowledge, attitudes, and purposeful practice.MethodsThree hundred twenty-four randomly selected Tanzanian women of reproductive age were studied using a community-based analytical cross-sectional study design quantitatively. Structured questionnaires from earlier studies that were delivered by interviewers were utilized to gather information from the study participants. The statistical software package Statistical Packages for Social Science was used to examine the data. (SPSS v.23). A 5% significance threshold was used with a 95% confidence interval.ResultA total of 324 women of reproductive age participated in the study with a 100% response rate with a mean age of 25 ± 7.481 years. Findings revealed that 81.8% (n = 265) of study participants were mutilated. 85.6% (n = 277) of women had inadequate knowledge about FGM, and 75.9% (n = 246) had a negative attitude toward it. However, 68.8% (n = 223) of them were willing to practice FGM. Their age (36–49 years) (AOR = 2.053; p < 0.014; 95%CI: 0.704, 4.325), single women (AOR = 2.443; p < 0.029; 95%CI: 1.376, 4.572), never go to school (AOR = 2.042; p < 0.011; 95%CI: 1.726, 4.937), housewives (AOR = 1.236; p < 0.012; 95%CI: 0.583, 3.826), extended family (AOR = 1.436; p < 0.015; 95%CI: 0.762, 3.658), inadequate knowledge (AOR = 2.041; p < 0.038; 95%CI: 0.734, 4.358) and negative attitude (AOR = 2.241; p < 0.042;95%CI: 1.008, 4.503) were significantly associated to practice female genital mutilation.ConclusionThe study observed that the rate of female genital mutilation was significantly high and still, women demonstrated the intention to continue practicing it. However, their sociodemographic characteristic profiles, inadequate knowledge, and negative attitude towards FGM were significantly linked with the prevalence. The private agencies, local organizations, the Ministry of Health, and community health workers are alerted to the findings of the current study to design and develop interventions and awareness-raising campaigns for women of reproductive age against female genital mutilation.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Jirapa, Upper West Region of Ghana.

Sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBIs) contribute to negative outcomes of pregnancy. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections in pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal and child morbidities and mortalities. This study assessed the prevalence, knowledge, and risk factors of STBBIs (HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis) among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Jirapa. A cross-sectional study design involving 246 pregnant women was employed for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information about the knowledge, prevalence, and risk factors of STBBIs. The overall prevalence of STBBIs was 11.4%; HBV prevalence was 9.8% and 0.8% each for HCV, HIV, and syphilis. About 66% of mothers were aware of mother-to-child transmission of infections during pregnancy. Knowledge of transmission of HIV (93.9%), hepatitis (67.1%), and syphilis (53.7%) in pregnancy was relatively high. Knowledge of risk factors for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis was 97.6%, 74.4%, and 76.0%, respectively. More than 98% of respondents knew about the prevention of HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Significant risk factors associated with and predictive of STBBIs were female genital mutilation (FGM) and gravidity. The occurrence of STBBIs among pregnant women was strongly associated with FGM and gravidity. Public health education should be directed at stopping the practice of FGM and improving reproductive health in the study area.